Luxe Beat Magazine October 2014

October 2014

Fort Worth: A Mecca of Cowboy Culture How to Fly Like Batgirl

Radio Talk Show Host Turned Author Jack Heath

Upscale Brewery Hotel in Beer Town, USA

Historical Luxury

Contents 12 18

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Travel 8

Four Seasons Preserves The Past For Modern-Day Guests

12 Fort Worth, Texas for Cowboys, Cowgirls, and Culture

Epicure 44 Death of the 100-Point Wine Scale?

16 An Urban Whitewater Adventure In Columbus, Georgia

46 Chef Chris Chafe At The Doctor’s House Inn And Spa, Newfoundland

18 Becoming Batgirl: zip-lining through the dark

50 The Art of Beer Craftsmanship

22 Historical Luxury in the Heart of the Oldest City 24 Post Ranch Inn: staying small in Big Sur 29 Southampton, New York: a village of refined, seaside luxury 32 The Many Modest Municipalities Of Cape Cod

Spas / Wellness

42 Global Etiquette – Handshakes and Greetings Worldwide Cuisine

88 Techie Trek To Palo Alto

68 5 Top Luxury Resort Spas in Scottsdale Arizona

Feat. Contributor

Fashion

90 Multi-Faceted, Multi-Talented Kathy Gruver PhD

75 True & Co.

Literature

78 Social Shopping: the new mall

56 Beer Town USA Goes Upscale

Art / Music

59 Black Ink: cult wine for the masses

80 Artist Karen Yee Captures The Essence of Her Subjects

61 Take-In Gourmet Dinners

82 A Place to Breath: after the quake, the art of rebuilding

63 The Past Is Re-Invented With A FINEX® Cast Iron Skillet

86 History, Art, Beauty, and Fashion Come Alive in NYC Museums

38 Luxe Layovers: PHX

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Technology

64 Santa Barbara’s Four Seasons Hotel: Every Season Counts

77 Sea Bags An Ideal Gift All Year Long

55 Cocktail Recipes from Moonshine Nation: The Art of Creating Cornbread in a Bottle

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92 Radio Talk Show Host Turned Author Jack Heath 96 Whatever Happened To The Metric System? An Interview with John Bemelmans Marciano 98 The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914 by Christopher Clark 99 America: Imagine a World without Her By Dinesh D’Souza 100 Chain of Souls

SHERRIE WILKOLASKI Editor-in-Chief and Managing Partner MARALYN D. HILL Executive Editor BENJAMIN BENNETT Creative Director LILLIAN AFRICANO Editor NORMAN HILL Editor LEAH WALKER Editor-At-Large DALE SANDERS Senior Travel & Lifestyle Editor/Director of Photography COURTNEY LOWDEN Fashion Editor-At-Large JASON DUMAS Creative Content Director PRODUCTION EDITOR Taylor Young KATHY WANAMAKER Advertising Sales CONTRIBUTORS Allan Kissam Beth Graham Chef Lance Seeto Dana Rebmann David Beebe Debi Lander Dena Roche Dr. Kathy Gruver Gillian Nicol Herve Laurent Inka Piegas-Quischote Ivan Flowers

Janice Nieder Jenna Francisco Jenna Intersimone Katherine Frelon Kurt Winner Lacey Reeves Larry Larsen Leah Walker Lillian Africano Linda Cordair Marilyn Green Martha Heath

Mary Haban Norman Hill Renee Phillips Sandra Chambers Sonja Hegman Andras Stacey Wittig Susan Lanier Graham The Cooking Ladies Tim Cotroneo

Luxe Beat Magazine is published in English. Our audience is a global market with global contributors. Each writes, using the form of English with which they are familiar. So you’ll see US, UK, AUS, CAN, versions, etc. We hope this eliminates any confusion on spelling.

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Editor’s Letter HISTORICAL LUXURY is the

If you’re in the mood to celebrate Oktoberfest, you’re sure to enjoy The Art of Beer Craftsmanship. If you’re in the mood to celebrate Halloween and looking for some spooky history, we’re talking with author Jack Heath. His historical tie to the Salem witch trials has taken him on a journey from book to film.

focus of our October 2014 edition of Luxe Beat Magazine. Historical luxury is about finding the classic and time-­tested everywhere you go!

From old hotels to timeless works of art and fashion, you can find history behind every luxury! There are qualities within them that are cherished and have consistently pampered people for many generations.

For our art lovers, we’re featuring artist Karen Yee, and fashion comes alive in NYC museums. Everyone is sure to enjoy Historical Luxury in the Heart of the Oldest City, Global Etiquette­ Handshakes and Greetings Worldwide!

For travel lovers, we have the scoop on luxurious and historical hotels all over America and great outdoor destinations! One article everyone will enjoy is Fort Worth, Texas for Cowboys, Cowgirls, and Culture.

No luxury in the world is without its own history!

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Letters

Letters To The Editor Dear Editor,

In your September issue you had one of your writers in Crete (Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries), another in Istanbul (Rejuvenating At The Pera Palace Istanbul), Buenos Aires (Private Shopping in Buenos Aires), etc. Do you send all of these writers on assignment?

Robert Lang, Delaware

Dear Robert,

The reason Luxe Beat Magazine has such a broad blend of articles is that our contributors travel the world and reside all over as well. We do get requests to cover specific destinations, but then the destination has to cover the expenses to have the writer/s come and experience the location. If it meets Luxe Beat standards, it will be covered.

In most cases our contributors have their trips planned out and work with our editorial calendar so we can provide a wide variety of material for our reader.

Sincerely, Maralyn

Dear Editor,

I’ve read the last two issues of Luxe Beat Magazine and was pleased to see you are covering a variety of art. This month you featured The Museum of Arts and Design Offers An Array of Beautiful Objects, The Importance of Art in the Workplace, and Discovering The Art Of Tanjore Paintings In Southern India. I like that you are featuring a variety and not just sticking with modern or traditional. Please keep it up.

Madalynn, France

Dear Madalynn,

Thank you for writing and we are thrilled you like our variety of art. We consider ourselves quite fortunate to have Renee Phillips and Linda Cordair as our two art experts along with our other contributors. They will insure that we keep offering a fine selection for our readers.

Sincerely, Maralyn

Please send Letters to the Editor to LuxeBeatMag@gmail.com Subject: Letter to Editor 7

Dear Readers, We were happy to receive some letters to the editor this month and hope more of you will continue to write to make comments or ask questions

Dear Editor,

I’ve noticed that you have started to introduce articles on technology. I hope you continue to introduce more.

Joe Blankenship, Los Angeles

Dear Joe,

Yes Joe, we are going to have more technology features. Our Technology Editor-at-Large, Sonja Hegman Andras keeps up on the latest and newest trends in the marketplace and will be passing them on to our readers.

Sincerely, Maralyn

Four Seasons Preserves The Past For Modern-Day Guests

By Leah Walker

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n travel, I’ve discovered a few things that I can always count on: New Orleans’ Café du Monde will forever be covered in powdered sugar; enchiladas shouldn’t be ordered outside of Mexico or Texas; and Four Seasons is a safe bet when looking for the best hotel in a city.

And in a world where flight departures, car reservations and train schedules aren’t guaranteed, it’s nice to be able to rely on something in the travelsphere.

I’ve been a Four Seasons guest on four continents at seventeen different properties. And despite the company’s 93 hotels and resorts in 38 different countries, there’s nothing generic or sterile about a Four Seasons experience. When greeted by Oliver, the laid back resident Labrador at the Hampshire property, there’s no denying you’re in the English countryside.

Meanwhile, the palatial George V in Paris is dripping with French elegance. Simple touches like the 100 Mile Cocktail, which is made only with ingredients found within 100 miles of each of the properties, is a small example of how the brand strives to combine luxury with local history, culture and tradition.

On a larger scale, several properties reside in historically significant buildings, which have since been repurposed and restored to their former glory. Take for instance Four Seasons Budapest. All but destroyed during World War II, Gresham Palace, once a toney apartment building and exclusive shopping arcade, remained in disrepair for nearly fifty years before Four Seasons spent five years renewing it.

During the $110 million restoration, Hungarian craftsman used original 8

Travel techniques to preserve and replicate the original Art Nouveau design.

Salvaged were the two million-piece mosaic tile floor, staircase, stainedglass floors and a wrought iron elevator. Those that remember the original building, and even saw war tanks rolling through the lobby, still stop by to marvel at the transformation. What those visitors miss (unless they’re hotel guests) are Gresham Palace’s modern additions, such as the spa, fitness facility and top floor infinity pool, not to mention all the latest in technology. Despite war and the Iron Curtain, Gresham Palace is once again the best address in Budapest.

The brand’s European properties don’t have the market cornered on historical renovations. Before Four Seasons Buenos Aires underwent a year long, $49 million restoration of its modern tower in 2013, La Mansión, a historical home on property, was entirely refurbished in 2007. Dating to 1920, La Mansión was built by a wealthy South American ranching heir as a wedding present to his bride. As one of Argentina’s most beautiful historical homes, it now sits elegantly in the shadows of the contemporary main hotel building. Indicative of Buenos Aires’ French-inspired architecture, this impressive home was fashioned

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delegation. And with the United Nations European Headquarters in Geneva, Hotel des Bergues still welcomes world leaders, along with discerning business and leisure travelers.

In 2005, Hotel des Bergues reopened as a Four Seasons. With no expense spared, it took craftsman and artisans almost a year of restoration, some of which used long-forgotten techniques in the process. Now, without a flower out of place or so much as a scuff on the patterned marble floor, Hotel des Bergues exudes the perfection of a luxurious Swiss timepiece.

Classically French, the interior is furnished with Directoire, Louis XVI and Louis-Philippe pieces with greens and blues that echo the colors of the surrounding lake and mountains. At first glance, everything about Hotel des Bergues is classic and traditional. From gilt framed oil paintings to marble statues to crystal chandeliers, this hotel harkens back to another time.

However, Hotel des Bergues is also incredibly modern.

with the finest materials available.

With many of the hotel’s suites located in La Mansión, the home maintains its Beaux Arts design, but still well-equipped for the 21st century guest.

the city’s first hotel, dating back to 1834. As a response to the increase in business and tourism, the city of Geneva carried out a beautification program that included the building of Hotel des Bergues, a neoclassical design favored during that era. Later in 1920, it hosted the first assembly of the League of Nations and was the headquarters of the French

Beyond the guest rooms, Spa Mont Blanc is the ultimate urban escape.

Reopened in 2013 after a three-year renovation, this modern spa sits on the top three floors of Hotel des Bergues. From Gucci chairs at reception to Turkish marble in the hammams to the heated indoor pool overlooking Geneva, there’s absolutely nothing old fashioned about this spa.

Dining on fine Italian fare at the one-star Michelin restaurant, Il Lago, is exactly what one would expect at Hotel des Bergues. However, there’s another side to this traditional coin.

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Geneva isn’t Japanese fusion or a rooftop terrace, but that’s exactly what Hotel des Bergues added in their most recent renovation.

PHOTOS BY LEAH WALKER

Hotels in Geneva, Switzerland don’t get more historical than Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues. It was

Not every part of the hotel is reminiscent of a beautiful antique Lalique jewelry box, which creates a dichotomy under one roof. Take for example the Loft Suites. Still steeped in luxury and elegance, these guest rooms have a contemporary design, which is a stark contrast to the Léman Suites with their toile wallpaper and brocade fabrics.

Izumi is an intimate rooftop restaurant from the same people behind Nobu in London. Serving

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Nikkei, a Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine, Izumi is a welcomed surprise for diners. Given the 360-degree views, innovative menu, limited space (only 25 people per seating) and short warm-weather window, dining at Izumi is a coveted opportunity.

As much as the brand works to preserve the past, these historical Four Seasons hotels are not museums, though they easily could double as such. Instead, they have discerning guests who expect the very latest and greatest in terms of technology, amenities and service.

Having a history that dates back hundreds of years is special, but that alone is not enough to be a leader in the luxury market.

Honoring the past, yet providing stellar service and the most modern conveniences is tricky, but it’s a balance that Four Seasons brand achieves with impeccable sophistication.

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Fort Worth, Texas

for Cowboys, Cowgirls and Culture

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KARIN LEPERI

By Karin Leperi

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F

ort Worth is a vibrant cowboy (and cowgirl) town, with a lively downtown district, a cultural center with five museums including the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and the famous National Stockyards Historic District, where drovers herd twice-daily longhorn cattle drives through the very heart of town.

From “boom” to “bust” several times over

But it wasn’t always a city with culture. The story of Fort Worth is actually a tale of a series of “boom” and “bust” cycles that helped define the town’s character, ultimately carving it out as a premiere western city. Somehow, with each “boom” it grew bigger, and with each “bust” it emerged stronger.

The best place to start any visit to Fort Worth is where the past meets the present. The Stockyards National Register Historic District is almost a destination unto itself. Here, you’ll find a twice-daily cattle drive herded through the streets of town, driven by some of the friendliest drovers.

After you catch the cattle drive, head over to the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum.

sport and business of rodeo, and the western lifestyle.” Be sure to save some time for the Sterquell Wagon Collection, the world’s largest collection of lifestyle wagons.

Of note is the Chuck Wagon, which was first developed in the 1860s by Charles Goodnight. The cowboy’s “kitchen on wheels” was an integral part of cattle drives between South Texas and the Kansas railheads. The cook usually tended to be an older or injured cowboy who knew how to make food. Staples included salt pork, beans, coffee, and sometimes sourdough bread and any wild game caught along the trail.

The museum “honors Texas men and women who have excelled in the

Save time for some retail therapy while in the Stockyard District. Get

western music, hats & saddles, rodeos, and modern-day saloons.

Ride a horse, buy a cowboy hat and handmade boots, and eat some of the best BBQ in Texas – all in Fort Worth.

Founded by the U.S. War Department on November 14, 1849 as a western outpost to protect pioneers and settlers from Indian attacks, the sleepy fort soon found that its fortunate geographic coordinates made it an ideal juncture for cattle drives, and later, the ranching industry. Located on the Old Chisholm Trail, it soon was nicknamed the “Cowtown”, because Fort Worth was the last major supply stop for drovers heading cattle up to the railheads in Kansas.

Over 4 million cattle stomped through Fort Worth between 1866 and 1890.

The coming of the Texas & Pacific Railway in 1876 created another boom, with Fort Worth now boasting the title of westernmost railhead – a boon for the shipment of cattle.

Typical of the Wild West in the 1880s and 1890s, the needs of drovers, cattle rustlers, gamblers, and gunslingers were met by a concoction of bars and brothels, the largest concentration of iniquity south of Dodge City. It was appropriately called Hell’s Half Acre.

By 1917, the discovery of oil in West Texas insured another boom for Fort Worth, with five refineries built to meet the fuel demands of World War I. Later, during World War II, Fort Worth would become home to the B-24 bombers, where planes were manufactured and pilots trained.

Fort Worth today: thriving cowboy culture

Today, cowboy culture is alive and well in this West Texas city of about 775,000 people. It is a colorful composite of cattle drives, railroads, 13

a pair of custom-made boots or even a one-of-a-kind saddle at M.L. Leddy’s.

Shop at Maverick Fine Western Wear for clothing fit for urban cowboys and cowgirls. Or get your hat custom steamed at Fincher’s White Front Western Wear.

Best Texas two-steppin

Next, it’s time to shuffle on over to the world famous Billy Bob’s Texas for some Texas two-steppin’ lessons.

Come learn to dance in what is billed as the “World’s Largest Honky Tonk.”

The affable Wendell Nelson, a dance instructor at Billy Bob’s for over 20 years, teaches free line dance

Each guest room has an amazing view of the Sound from its room wide floorto-ceiling picture window.

lessons every Thursday night at 7pm.

Nelson believes that, “Dancing is the most fun you can have standing up.”

A wildly popular country & western nightclub with a capacity of over 6,000 people, Billy Bob’s boasts

when you can witness the real thing?

127,000 square feet for bootscootin’ fun, and has hosted legendary concert musicians like Willie Nelson, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Reba Mc Entire and Travis Tritt. It’s also home to a small indoor rodeo. Why ride a mechanical bull

Best barbecue and beer in town

All that boot scootin’ is bound to work up an appetite, so go where the locals chow down for some of the

best barbecue in town. Within walking distance, Cooper’s Old Time BBQ is famous for smoking meat with a dry-rub. You will be surprised how meaty and succulent beef ribs are here – or for that matter, all the smoked meats. More cafeteria-style, the place isn’t fancy, so stay with it, since the ambiance is local cowboy.

(I counted over 25 cowboys and cowgirls dining with hats). I ordered one beef rib after being told that they have a lot of meat, but I really didn’t believe the jargon. I ended up sharing half the rib with my son and ate a baked potato, coated with the dry-rub, that didn’t even need butter!

Mosey on back to the heart of the historic stockyards (Exchange Ave.) for the best place in cow town to down some suds: White Elephant Saloon. Here, you’ll find a bevy of cowboy hats all over the walls, a weird collection of white elephants, and a great selection of beer, along with live music seven nights a week.

Besides it being Fort Worth’s most historic saloon and dancehall, you just might also hear some chatter about it being the place of the “Last Great Gunfight in Fort Worth.”

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Cozy comfort at Etta’s Place – girlfriend of the Sundance Kid

Overnight at Etta’s Place, a quaint bed & breakfast that that is hugely popular with Europeans and locals, reservations are a must. The nice feature is that this boutique B&B is within walking distance of all downtown attractions. Etta, a school teacher by day and a Madame for a bordello by night, was a young lady with classic, refined features. She was also the girlfriend of the Sundance Kid. Etta accompanied the Hole in the Wall gang to South America; legend has it that she returned to the U.S. in 1907. No one seems to know if it was with or without the Sundance, as some accounts say he survived.

Next morning, enjoy a home-cooked breakfast at Etta’s Place before heading out. Check out downtown shopping for your cowgirl needs at Leddy’s Ranch at Sundance Square, Retro Cowboy, and Barse Jewelry.

Then walk over to Sundance Square for a viewing of the popular Chisholm Trail Mural by artist

Richard Haas. While you’re at it, enjoy fabulous cowboy steaks and cuisine at the Reata Restaurant , featuring Texas flavors that embrace Southwestern, Creole, and Southern.

museum is dedicated “to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneer spirit in their trailblazing efforts.” I was absolutely spell-bound. My favorite was the Plains Indian Art collection by Cathy A. Smith. This is an exclusive exhibit of ceremonial headdresses, shirts, leggings, moccasins, weapons and other accessories. However you spend your time, be sure to save

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame Next, head for the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, the only museum in the world of its kind.

Located in the cultural district, the

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some of it for the Cowgirl Boutique within the gift shop. Displaying one of the best selections of cowgirl garb and bling to be found, their inventory includes designers like Pat Dahnke Waller.

So what are you waiting for? Fort Worth can entertain you, feed you, and have you proud to be a cowgirl; even as it meets your cowgirl retail needs. What more could a cowgirl want?

An Urban Whitew Adventure In Columbus Geor

By Debi Lander

U

rban whitewater drew me to Columbus; imagine a place where you can raft tough rapids on the Chattahoochee River and then walk back to your hotel. In fact, USA Today picked the Chattahoochee Whitewater Park as one of the “Top 12 man-made Adventures in the World.”

Thirteen years ago the river and the city of Columbus , in western Georgia, were desperately in need of city-wide renewal. Somehow, the private and public sectors worked together to change the tide literally. Today, the city boasts the longest urban white water course in the world.

guide from White Water ExpressOutfitters, who was confident and couldn’t wait to give us an exciting adventure.

After a general group briefing, we hopped into the van along with our oars and were driven to the loading zone. No sooner did we enter the Chattahoochee River (I love saying that name) than we encountered our first series of rapids. “Dig,” hollered Casey and the four rafters on board attempted to stroke together.

I investigated a section of the 15mile Columbus RiverWalk in the morning- a place where folks stroll, exercise, bike, and fish. When I got down to the area where rock studded “big water” roared offshore, I nearly changed my mind. Recent rains have swollen the river and the cascading flow truly rushes by. This gnarly section of class 4 rapids (would have been class 5 if the course hadn’t been groomed to prevent rafts getting hung up in rocks) looked more powerful than I could handle.

We lazed through the next section, the river doing the work of pushing the raft forward. We enjoyed views of Blue Heron around the Habitat Pool, a man-made zone created by the river project engineers. Shoal Bass,

However, when 1:30pm came and it was time to don a life jacket and helmet, I wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip by. My friend, Ruth joined me. We met Casey, our raft 16

which spawn in rough water, have returned now that the river churns with rushing tides. In all, two dams were removed from the river along with any sharp rock formations.

Casey mentally prepared us for the challenging lower course and let those of us on the raft decide how we wanted to approach. No wimpy rafters here, we choose, as he termed it, the hot and spicy route.

Oh my gosh, we had more than Mr. Toad on his famous wild ride as our raft bounced along, waves crashing in and over the sides. I screamedbut with delight, not fright. I momentarily thought we would flip, as the raft seemed to fold up in the

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water n rgia

middle. Ruth fell forward while I slipped backward. But, with Casey at the bat, no one fell out and we soon recovered control of the course.

Casey called for a high five of our oars and we were all elated.

Tour operators offered the option of running the course again, from a slightly shorter launching location.

We all choose to return, so once again our raft rebounded by the old brick denim mills at river’s edge and the newer convention center and historic downtown Columbus. How very cool to have what I think of as a rural adventure in the center of town. No need to drive hours to a park and camp out in order to get to a white water course. In Columbus,

the adventure waits just outside your hotel or restaurant door.

That night Ruth and I dined at Meritage, a locally owned restaurant with a superior wine and martini bar.

Yes, the evening would be a splurge and was worth it.

Meritage is a grand addition to the walkable city of Columbus and after my meal I needed a walk. Ruth and I meandered through the historic house district and again along some of that 15-mile RiverWalk, which couldn’t be a nicer way to end an evening.

Disclosure: Thanks to Columbus for sponsoring our visit and the Columbus Marriott for fine lodging.

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Becoming Batgirl

zip-lining through the dark

By Debi Lander

B

y the time we climbed the third platform, darkness prevailed. I couldn’t see anything in this moonless night, so thought of myself as an owl flying towards prey. In this case, the prey was a distant glow coming from a flashlight held by the attendant at the far end of the line.

A brochure from ZipQuest promised, “Take a short drive to a big adventure.” For me, the adventure required a long drive; one from St. Augustine, Florida up Interstate 95 to North Carolina. But ZipQuest delivered on adventure.

My 23-year-old daughter and I were headed to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and decided to split our long journey over two days and spend the night in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

I’ve previously let loose my inner child, feeling jungle breezes whizzing

in- should we get stuck somewhere before the end of a run.

past my body while zip-lining through a rainforest. But Laura had never experienced the Tarzan-like adventure of flying while clipped to a steel line. So after dinner, we drove to Zip-Quest, ranked as one of the ten great ziplines in the United States by USA Today. I was intrigued by the scary fear factor of soaring in a night forest.

As the sun was setting, the group walked down the trail and climbed up a platform for our first treetop adventure. Laura, like the other newbies, was getting the hang of the sport: the clipping in and out of the cable. When she completed her first aerial zoom, I saw a smile creep over her face. The second span ran much longer and faster. Whoa! We were airborne like eagles.

We only needed to arrive about 10 minutes early for our 8:15 reservation, since ZipQuest very efficiently processes wavier and release forms via email. We met our guides and shimmied into our harnesses and donned hard helmets which had headlights on the front.

At this point, darkness had descended. I couldn’t see anything in front of me, so conjured myself into a wise owl and headed toward that glow at the far end of the line.

Whew, I made it. However, when I watched Laura swooping in behind me, she looked more like Batgirl; confident and on a mission.

Safety first, the group was given a lesson and then each person took a test run on a very short hipline, barely hovering above ground. We learned how to slow down, stop and reverse direction and pull ourselves

To be honest, I personally think 18

ziplinng in the day is more fun. For me, the joy is being connected to nature and the trees. I love perching in treetops like a bird and peering below. At night, you miss that perspective and beauty, but you do gain the challenge of releasing your comfort zone, and shall I say, spreading your wings in the dark.

Facilities at Zip Quest offer fantastic floating staircases and platforms anchored to centuries-old trees.

They also include a few awesome suspension bridges that span the Sandhills’ only major waterfallCarver Falls. We wobbled and bounced our way across these. Laura claimed she was happy it was pitch black because she couldn’t tell how high we were off the ground. To each his own.

The group could clearly hear the roar of the falls, as we neared, but couldn’t appreciate the scenic wonder. Eventually, we pointed our

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helmet lights downward and our guides faintly lit the area with their flashlights. I would go back during the day just to revel in the beauty of this spot and North Carolina’s famous loblolly pines. But I guess I’ll just have to go to Carolina in my mind (Yes, I’m a James Taylor fan).

Plan to spend about two and a half hours maneuvering your way across ZipQuest’s eight ziplines and skybridges. Wear closed toed shoes and pants or Bermuda length shorts, as the harness runs across your thighs.

Of course, no zipping if you are pregnant or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Weight requirements run from 70 to 250 pounds.

ZipQuest Waterfall and Treetop Adventure 533 Carver Falls Road Fayetteville, NC 28311 www.zipquest.com (910)488 8787 19

When Indy’s Libertine Liquor Bar landed on Esquire’s “Best Bars in America” list, it was acknowledgment of not only a bar, but a scene that has been building. From our breweries raking in gold at the Great American Beer Festival to our chefs stirring up buzz over our dining scene, Indianapolis is serving up more than the race cars and hoops we’re known for. Take a long weekend and discover the Midwest’s best kept secret for yourself.

For what to see, do, and eat, go to VisitIndy.com | BLOG: DoingIndy.com | FOLLOW US: @VisitIndy

Historical Luxury in the Heart of the Oldest City IMAGES COURTESY OF CASA MONICA HOTEL

By Beth Graham

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Travel intricately hand-painted ceilings.

Executive Chef Aaron Chavarria recently re-imagined the menu, which now offers guests tapas style dining, a throwback to his days of cooking as a child with his mother in his native Nicaragua. Everything was made with fresh, local ingredients paired with healthy tropical fruits and flavorful herbs, so Chef Aaron has brought this experience to 95 Cordova. The menu features Spanishand Mediterranean-inspired small plates that are simple, yet elegant.

Chef Aaron wants guests to experience different flavors by offering small plates for sharing, such as conch Carpaccio topped with oil infused with St. Augustine’s iconic datil pepper, tuna cured in cumin, a goat cheese medallion with pomegranate syrup over arugula, and salmon cured in Limóncello. Tapas are a great way to please all palates, and the Casa Monica certainly sees its share of international guests. Best of all, loyal local diners don’t have to travel abroad to experience rich, exotic flavors.

Most evenings, you’ll find a mix of guests and locals in the Cobalt Lounge, listening to live music which, in keeping with Spanish traditions, may include the unmistakable sounds of flamenco guitars or classic jazz.

Guests come for the music, but also for the hand-crafted cocktails.

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’ll put St. Augustine up against any other U.S. city in terms of charm.

Sure, as America’s oldest city, it’s bustling with historical ambiance and attractions, but it also has a certain je ne sais quoi that adds a level of quaintness I don’t find in other cities. This ranges from the historic district lined with cobblestone streets to quaint cafes and offbeat artisan shops.

St. Augustine, located just 30 minutes south of Jacksonville, was established in 1565 by Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and the Spanish influence is still prevalent throughout the city. The many historic structures – Fort Matanzas, Castillo de San Marcos, the Lightner Museum and even the Fountain of Youth – make you feel as though you’re in another era.

The city’s only luxury hotel is an attraction unto itself. Situated in the heart of the downtown district and just steps from the Matanzas Bay, is the historic Casa Monica Hotel.

Built in 1888, the hotel opened with

historic district and St. Augustine’s picturesque bay. The Flagler Suite is a luxurious three-story tower suite, with two bedrooms and a living room offering views of the magnificent Lightner Museum. Its third floor bedroom features colorful glasswork windows from the hotel’s original construction in 1888.

only three guests and struggled through its early years. Rough times forced the hotel to close in 1932, and it then served as the county courthouse for three decades.

In 1997, The Kessler Collection acquired the property and, following a $10 million restoration, Casa Monica Hotel debuted once again as the luxurious destination it is today.

The Casa Monica’s restaurant, 95 Cordova, has been a favorite among locals for years, for its haute cuisine served in an eclectic dining room filled with lavish antiques and

The moment you step into this Mediterranean revival-style building, you’ll know you’re someplace special.

The lobby transports you to an ancient era with Moroccan frescos, exquisite tapestries and luxurious chandeliers that feel more like a palace than a hotel. But don’t let that fool you – the hotel is blessed with the best of all modern day amenities. Each of the 138 guestrooms has its own unique style, with furnishings and décor fit for a king and queen. If you’re feeling especially royal, suites are the way to go. The Ponce de Leon Suite is a two-story tower suite with a striking, wrought iron four-poster bed and panoramic views of the 23

Casa Monica is also home to the Grand Bohemian Gallery, an in-house art gallery that showcases local and international artists’ work, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics and jewelry.

There’s certainly plenty to explore within the walls of Casa Monica, from its décor to food and art. Once you step outside and into America’s oldest city, your inner explorer will take over with the city’s famed historic attractions and museums.

After a day of walking and sightseeing, it’s great to return to the modern luxury of Casa Monica.

Post Ranch Inn Staying Small In Big Sur

By Michael Cervin

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here are very few properties you stay at in life where you don’t want to leave, where time stands still, your soul is settled, and all seems right with the world. Post Ranch Inn, located on the stunning Big Sur coastline in California, is just one of those places.

Post Ranch Inn is as close to heaven as you can reach, almost literally.

Perched 1,200 feet above the ocean and straddling a mountain ridge providing views to the Pacific on one side and the Santa Lucia Mountains on the other, the exclusive 39 rooms are an oasis from the stressful day-to-day environment we often find ourselves in. The vast property of 100 acres is punctuated by outdoor original sculptures and nearly three miles of trails crisscrossing redwood groves, fields, and gentle inclines.

Of course, it is the vast ocean views which inspire guests and which prompted the original building of the Inn in 1992. Wisely, initial building principles were grounded

and the anticipation of staying here was only matched by finding myself here for real. The beds face directly out to the Pacific and electronic shades will keep you in the dark should you decide to sleep in, but frankly with these views and miles of trails, yoga, an outdoor heated pool, a fitness room and unfettered views of the Pacific Ocean at your disposal, why would you sleep in?

But the outdoor hot tub set within feet of the cliffs does meditative quite well too, a stainless steel bath out amongst the stars which gives you the privacy you desire. There are no railings, the flagstone patio goes right to the slopes of the hills, again making for no distractions visually.

Teak tables and chairs face out and the way the rooms are designed, it’s very difficult to see your neighbors.

In fact, many guests who come to Post Ranch never leave the property.

in an organic approach to the unique landscape and the end result is an unobtrusive boutique lodging which reflects, not only a sense of place, but also a sense of peace. It is rustic, yet luxurious; innovative but comfortable. The original rooms vary from curved sod-roofed structures with ocean views, to multiple tree houses putting you directly among mature trees elevated from the earth, yet connected to the land.

Rooms vary in size, some smaller than others, so check to see that the size is appropriate for your length of stay.

Ten new larger rooms were added in 2008 with heated stained concrete floors, real wood burning fireplaces, comfortable seating areas and desk, a bevy of complimentary snacks and beverages including decadent chocolate chip cookies, wine, and drinking water bottled directly on the property. And every room has binoculars with which to survey the ocean, perhaps passing whales and anything else out at sea. And it was one of these rooms where I stayed,

Some folks may bemoan the lack of TVs in the rooms, but with nature at your doorstep, you don’t need to watch reality shows, you are in

…with nature at your doorstep, you don’t need to watch reality shows, you are in reality; the jaw dropping beauty and serenity that Mother Nature herself has provided.

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reality; the jaw dropping beauty and serenity that Mother Nature herself has provided. The Big Sur coast is not an entertainment mecca; there are no movie theatres, no malls, in fact, barely any shopping at all except for a few art galleries - it is a detox world, a purposeful escape. But Post Ranch Inn is also about discovery, like the hammocks set amidst redwood trees, or wild turkeys that roam the property, outdoor lounge pools with uninhibited views out across the Kashmir blue of the sea. Daily yoga and meditation are offered in a yurt, with knotty pine wood floors making it the perfect place to ruminate.

There is a small mercantile shop with local art and jewelry, books and organic clothing, which is near the garden that Post Ranch uses to provide some of its culinary nuances in your meals. The Ranch allows for a type of self-discovery – a space in which to allay your fears, worries and cares by simply being in one of the most beautiful places on earth, and not have a care in the world other than to decide what to have for

Travel

Post Ranch Inn is as close to heaven as you can reach, almost literally. Perched 1,200 feet above the ocean and straddling a mountain ridge providing views to the Pacific on one side and the Santa Lucia Mountains on the other…

dinner. A library is situated near the tree houses, a quiet spot to thumb through their extensive collection of books, or to wile away the hours with your own book. Such is the level of concierge, which is top-notch, and the near spiritual calmness that permeates the property – you never feel rushed.

Breakfast is included in your stay and features an omelet station, fresh baked pastries, and fresh fruit.

And you cannot beat the glassed-in views jutting out from the cliffs of restaurant Sierra Mar, with its sharp octagonal motif counterbalancing the soft and smooth ocean. The lunch menu rotates seasonally, whereas the dinner menu changes nightly; therefore, there is always something new to discover. The eclectic dinner menu can range from Moroccan carrot soup, to baby octopus braised in ink, to savory black truffle gnocchi.

Desserts like Tahitian shortbread with lemon verbena ice cream seal the deal.

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To visit Post Ranch Inn is to suspend yourself in moments of time, and your time spent here will make everything right with the world. True, Post Ranch Inn is not inexpensive – a standard room will run you about $1,500 a night, sans dinner or lunch. Sure, there is the ability to use one of the Inn’s Lexus SUV’s to drive yourself about, sure you get Champagne when you check in and, sure the concierge is beyond the pale, but staying here, while pricy, is a near ethereal experience, in part because there are so few properties situated away from everything. The tony village of Carmel is 30 miles north, while “Carmel-lite,” Cambria is 70 miles to the south.

A visit to Post Ranch Inn is a memorable experience, a special treat and one of those rare experiences that helps to define your life.

Post Ranch Inn 47900 Highway 1Big Sur (888) 524-4787 www.postranchinn.com

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Southampton, New York A Village Of Refined Seaside Luxury

By Jenna Intersimone

Sunset at Shinnecock

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ashing families of history buffs usually get the short end of the stick when it comes to travel. Instead of getting to relax on beautiful beaches alongside crystal-clear seas in quaint cities with stellar shopping, they get dragged to stuffy, dark structures with teeny gift shops, while their loved ones explore hundred-year histories with smiles stretched across their tanned faces. There aren’t many locales where history and luxury meet to form a one-of-a-kind vacation.

However, it never has to be this way.

Southampton, the legendary village tucked within New York’s exclusive Hamptons, is a famous gem worthy of the hype, yet without the glitz and the gauche that some other high-class hotspots are packaged with. Never needing bright, sparkling amenities, while equipped with classic beauty and quiet luxury, Southampton is a destination finely suited to the East Coast elite with a taste for history.

As a true Jersey girl with only a few precious sunny weekends left in a much-needed summer, I decided to take a break from my chronic Jersey Shore weekends and instead, step outside the box and onto route 495 into New York to a more subdued destination.

To someone used to fluorescent-lit boardwalks, stuffed Shore cottages and loud locals, Southampton was a breath of fresh sea air from the moment we drove into this charming old-world village of weeping willows, coastal homes, pastel beach cruisers and posh boutiques. However, I still clutched my homemade list of Southampton attractions with some angst, as there didn’t seem to be many; especially not many that seemed to serve any particularly high levels of excitement.

ALL PHOTOS BY JENNA INTERSIMONE

I would soon find that Southampton never needed amenities to make it noteworthy, as all of the real attractions of Southampton lie in its natal, untouched loveliness.

Founded in 1640, Southampton was developed by settlers from Lynn, Massachusetts, and eventually became the refined beach getaway that many families came to appreciate as the years went on.

I would be one of them.

First, we checked into our hotel for the long weekend, the Southampton Inn, a sprawling yet homey cottage-

Secretive driveway of First Neck Lane BELOW Vintage shops near Tate’s Bake Shop on North Sea Rd

like inn. It was equipped with an award-winning restaurant, Café Oso, a medium-sized outdoor pool, several colorful lounging areas on the lawn, and a small, friendly library with a welcoming staff. The Inn, which was voted Best Family-Friendly Hotel by the Travel Channel, offered a complimentary shuttle to Cooper’s Beach, nestled within the exclusive Meadow Lane, of which we immediately took advantage upon arriving in the small village.

Pulling up to Cooper’s Beach after winding down the dark, romantic roads of Southampton, it is immediately obvious that this is no Seaside – the sign proudly boasts the beach’s status of the #1 Beach in America (it is consistently named one of America’s Top Ten Beaches) and islanders are dressed in designer garb and carry everything from designer towels to designer beach bags. The beach is undoubtedly nice – clean, white sand, clear waters, and no clouding of pollution or artificial lights. A thousand identical umbrellas bloom from the sand, rented from the beach shack and grill (equipped with a deck) near the parking lot.

Cooper’s Beach calls Meadow Lane home, a modest name for a lane that has a median home sale price of $18 million. David Koch, William Salomon, Calvin Klein and Gerald Ford all call the five-mile road home, and one another, neighbors. As we cruised down the road by sunset after our afternoon on the beach, it was impossible not to gaze out the window and admire the fine works of real estate art that lay just outside the car window.

I was shocked to find that as we drove the lane, we came across an attraction that I hadn’t researched and set on my list – Shinnecock Bay, which lays on the other side of Meadow Lane. The Bay has many rustic docks and walkways that run into the water, where home-bound beachgoers stop to watch the sunset, fish and boat. We hung our legs over the water, scaring the minnows and snapping photos as the sun went down.

Even as we drove inland to Southampton Village and up Main Street later in the weekend, the classic glitz did not stop. Most homes on the beach-country roads had domineering gates and more hedges and trees blocking any views even to see one brick of the buildings that lay behind. When enjoying a peek, we tried to glance

Travel at their beautiful wrap-around porches, waterfall pools and private tennis courts.

Main Street itself is lined with well-cared-for flowers and benches and, of course, designer boutiques sporting one-of-a-kind fashionable goods. Every restaurant sports white tablecloths and finely-dressed patrons. Tate’s Bake Shop, located just north of Main Street, felt like being home again, an award-winning bakery featuring vintage decor and a grandma’s-house feel with awardwinning chocolate chip cookies.

As we left Southampton after the long weekend, I felt saddened to leave my step into the reality that the East Coast elite live every weekend - owners of pristine penthouses in New York City, flocking to their wealthy beach houses where they needed no boardwalks, clubs or fried food to entertain them. Instead, they were surrounded by private pools, beach clubs and tennis courts, where they took the yacht out for a spin and talked about the merits of investment.

Unlike many stereotypical beach towns, Southampton doesn’t need a loud boardwalk or storming bars to remain relevant. Instead, its undeniable elegance, exceptional quiet and prominent history makes it a hit hotspot for families looking for a globe of luxury to surround them on a summer weekend getaway.

ABOVE Cooper’s Beach, one of America’s Top Ten Beaches RIGHT Agawam Lake

BELOW One of many mansions of Meadow Lane

The Many M Municipa Of Cape

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Modest alities Cod

hen the well-traveled look to plan their next destination, their minds jump to the most notorious of cities: Los Angeles, Paris, New York City.

Even as a travel writer, I am no exception to this rule. I relish in visiting a new city, where I can book my hotel, grab a guidebook and go exploring without any complications.

However, when recently planning my first visit to Cape Cod, I wasn’t completely sure where I should start.

Since Cape Cod is a region, even sometimes considered an island, it isn’t immediately obvious in what city one should book their hotel, what attractions one should partake in, what restaurants one should visit, or even how one should arrive. The only foolproof way to ensure that, as a traveler, you truly get all highlights of Cape Cod is simple: Enlist the help of a local.

Unfortunately, this is much easier said than done.

By Jenna Intersimone

I was lucky enough to have a companion who has been vacationing in the area for over ten years. But for those who are visiting this historic locale without the help of an accomplished Cape Codder, below are must-see municipalities of the legendary region to help make your travels to Cape Cod a little more manageable.

Brewster, a town of about 10,000 located on the south end of Cape Cod Bay, has a significant makeup of tourists’ summer homes. But it had a decidedly intimate and friendly feel, making it an excellent spot to rest my head after a long day wandering. Although the town didn’t nest the biggest attractions of the Cape, it was picturesque, quiet and centrally located within other popular towns in the area.

If you pass through or stay in Brewster, make sure you grab a lemon square at Hopkins House Bakery,

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a bakery only open four days a week, since everything is prepared completely homemade. Grumpy’s, is a choice breakfast restaurant with a line wrapping around the building to prove it. Cape Cod Bay beach is a favorite sunbathing spot for locals, with opportunities for fishing and boating as well.

beach. After some time spent relishing in the sunshine of this clean and wild beach, we got back on our bikes and delved deep into the scenic trails surrounding Clapps Round Pond and Province Lands Road.

Provincetown is a notoriously quirky community, reminiscent of Key West, located at the most northern point of Cape Cod. After driving 30 miles from Brewster to Provincetown, my companions and I rented beach cruisers and headed off for a leisurely drive to and around nearby beaches. We soon arrived in Herring Cove, a bright and quiet untamed

Back in Provincetown, night descended quickly, which meant that it was high time for Commercial 34

Street, the “Main Street” of the town, filled with galleries, boutiques, packed seafood restaurants, dive bars and shows. Rainbow flags flew overhead the endless train of excited people who paraded the streets. This town is a must-visit, especially those looking for a night out on the town, an amusing show or some stellar seafood.

Travel Hyannis is the largest of the seven villages of Cape Cod, an urban and historic district known for its shopping and hub of transportation.

Of course, it’s also the home of the Kennedy Compound. It served as the locale for our Hyannis Whale Watching tour, an obvious must-do for a trip to New England. During the four-hour boating trip starting from Lewis Bay and traveling outward, our boat spotted several humpback whales and their calves, at the tail-end of their season in New England.

This “Capital of the Cape” tends to be the favorite spot for those looking for some bustle in their trip to Cape Cod. It often features concerts and other forms of entertainment alongside some of the Cape’s best restaurants and shops. Due to its location, it’s also where many tourists head for ferry and whale watching tours.

Chatham is like the scaled-down version of Provincetown, perfectly equipped for families, due to Friday night low-key bands as well as shopping and fine restaurants. While there, we went to Chatham Pier and Fish Market for lunch, a specialty shop known for its quality seafood and fine views of the busy Chatham Fish Pier.

If you find yourself passing through Chatham during your Cape Cod trip, make sure you visit the Chatham Lighthouse, established in 1877 and known as one of the most famous and scenic of Cape Cod lighthouses.

Cape Cod can be a daunting trip to book, especially without the help of a seasoned local, due to its many tempting destinations that are impossible to hit completely in one trip. Part of the intrigue of Cape Cod is that, unlike visitation of a single famous city such as Miami or Florence, every vacation to Cape Cod will be different due to endless possibilities enveloped in this legendary locale.

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Each suite has a separate sitting and sleeping chamber with a king sized bed and a luxury private bath.

Wake up to beautiful breakfasts served by our lighthouse keepers in the cozy kitchen with fireplace and ocean vistas.

Our living quarters are outfitted with the latest modern technology including wifi, LED televisions, and USB ports.

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Surround yourself with sweeping panoramic views of Maine’s Atlantic Coastline and bask in contemporary luxury and design. The custom millwork, beautiful moldings, coffered ceilings and marble bathrooms are the ultimate in craftsmanship. The views from every window are dramatic, 360 degree ocean views. The Cuckolds is a unique experience, receiving each guest in contemporary luxury through layers of bespoke craftsmanship and design. All honoring the sense of place and Cuckolds history.

Reservations Toll Free: 855.212.5252 www.innatcuckoldslighthouse.com

Photos by Darren Setlow

Luxe Layov PHX

By Susan Lanier-Graham

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vers:

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emember the days when the thought of an airport layover brought shudders and a sense of dread? Today’s airports are breaking out of that mold—and breaking all the old rules—to offer bespoke services to modern travelers. From luxury lounges, modern spas and art museums to wine bars, gourmet restaurants and markets filled with fresh produce, airports around the world are revolutionizing the travel experience. Discover a new place each month for your next luxe layover.

Airport Clubs & Lounges One of the best ways to relax between flights is to head to a nearby lounge. There are several lounges in PHX T4: three US Airways/American Club Lounges, a British Airways Club Lounge and an independent The Club at PHX.

The three US Airways Clubs will become Admirals Club lounges in coming months as a result of the US Airways/American Airlines merger.

There is one above gates A7 ad A9 (open 6 am to 11:30 pm); one between gates A19 and A21 (open 6 am to 8 pm); and the largest and newly remodeled lounge above gates B5 and B7 (open 6 am to midnight).

All three lounges offer free Wi-Fi; wireless printing; snacks; water, coffee, tea and soft drinks; premium beer, wine and spirits; conference rooms; TVs; newspapers and magazines. The lounges are open to those who hold a US Airways Club membership, an American Airlines Admirals Club membership or to anyone who wants to pay the $50 daily charge to use the facilities.

The British Airways Club is located

at the end of the B concourse, above Gate B22. If you have Oneworld Emerald or Sapphire status or are traveling on a First or Business Class ticket on any Oneworld airline, you may visit the British Airways lounge.

The club is open 24 hours and offers free Wi-Fi; water, coffee, tea and soft drinks; wine and spirits; TVs; magazines and newspapers. There are two different lounges for first class and business class and views of the tarmac.

There is also one independent lounge at PHX: The Club at PHX. This lounge, located between gates B21 and B23, is accessible to passengers on any airlines by paying a $35 one-day access fee. The lounge offers floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the tarmac. There is Wi-Fi; work stations with PCs; snacks and drinks; wine and beer; newspapers and magazines; and TVs.

Restaurants and Bars

Over the past year, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport’s Terminal 4 has undergone a complete transformation on the culinary front.

Sure, you’ll still find Starbucks and Paradise Bakery, but also many high-quality local restaurants have opened their doors inside PHX. There’s something for every taste.

Here are some of the best for each concourse:

IN THE B CONCOURSE: Press Coffee Food & Wine: this locally roasted coffee makes a great cup of Joe. Sweet Republic: all natural, hand crafted ice cream; you must try the salted butter caramel.

Matt’s Big Breakfast: serves breakfast and lunch made with local organic produce and cage-free eggs; try the cheese omelet.

Cowboy Ciao: has been a local favorite for almost 20 years, serving Italian, Mexican and Southwestern dishes; the Stetson chopped salad is an unforgettable meal.

IN THE A CONCOURSE: Tammie Coe Cakes: try the butterscotch crumb buns or any of the big, soft cookies.

Four Peaks Brewery: for a sip of a local favorite brew, try the Kilt Lifter beer.

Blanco Tacos + Tequila: local restaurateur Sam Fox serves up amazing guacamole, machaca tacos with braised short rib and refreshing margaritas and sangria.

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IN THE C CONCOURSE: Zinc Brasserie: a smaller version of Zinc Bistro, this local favorite serves up amazing mac and cheese with ham.

Humble Pie Pizza: great pastas and salads (check out the Caprese) but the white pies are amazing (who can resist fig and prosciutto with goat cheese?).

IN THE D CONCOURSE: Barrio Café: started as a neighborhood Mexican food joint with elevated food; try the camaron (shrimp) enchiladas with Oaxaca and

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport started out in the 1930s with a single runway. Back then, PHX was nicknamed “The Farm” because of its isolated rural location. When the city paid $100,000 for the 285-acre airport in 1935, no one predicted that 80 years later, the airport would be in the middle of the Phoenix metropolitan area, encompassing multiple modern terminals and servicing more than 40 million passengers every year.

The largest terminal at PHX is Terminal 4. There are a total of seven concourses in T4, which serves as the Phoenix home to US Airways/ American Airlines, Southwest, Air Canada, British Airways and WestJet. Due to its size and the fact that it serves more than 80% of all Phoenix passengers, nearly all of the amenities are located in T4.

Travel chèvre cheese.

La Grande Orange: this is a local grocery store/pizzeria/sandwich shop that serves amazing pizza but even more amazing chocolate chip sea salt cookies.

OUTSIDE SECURITY: Chelsea’s Kitchen: the sit-down restaurant affiliated with La Grande Orange (don’t forget the cookies for dessert).

Cheuvront Restaurant and Wine Bar: this used to be a downtown Phoenix staple, but its airport location is the city’s only location for this super cool wine bar; sip a glass of wine or champagne, nibble on the cheese plate or try the ancho pork empanadas in a flaky puff pastry.

Shopping

Of course, there are still those kiosks selling cheap scarves and those newsstands with water, soda, chips and magazines, but Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is also home to several high-end shops.

One of the best is Mosaic: Fine Art & Craft Gallery. Mosaic, located in the T4 lobby before security, features beautiful art glass, sculptures, jewelry, paintings and ceramics.

Alongside work by local artisans are fine works by world-renowned artists. Don’t miss the art books, paper goods and small gifts at the back of the shop. Don’t want to carry it on your flight? No worries.

Mosaic will ship for you.

Inside security, next to gate A3, is Mosaic’s sister store, Indigenous.

This shop features Native American arts, crafts and jewelry. From traditional Native American pottery, baskets, Kachina dolls and weaving to contemporary jewelry using Arizona’s native turquoise, Indigenous has an eclectic assortment of gifts. Your family and friends will never know you found their treasure at an airport.

Museums and Art Work

Most of us take for granted the works of art on display at airports around the world. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is no exception. In fact, the Phoenix Airport Museum is one of the largest airport museums in the country, with nearly 600 pieces in the collection, along with many others on loan from other museums or collections. On average, collections change every six months and are on display 24 hours a day for travelers. Artwork includes a variety of mediums, artistic styles and disciplines, and can be seen in all terminals as well as the rental car center and Sky Train terminal.

• Continue up the A concourse and at Peets Coffee and Tea, catch a peek of the Phoenix FAA Tower. This is the newest tower at PHX. The original PHX control tower was constructed in the 1950’s from underground fuel storage tanks welded together. The center contained a 1.5-foot-wide pipe that held all wiring and a 129-step spiral staircase.

• Continue down the moving sidewalk toward gates A1 to A16. Look to your left and catch a peek of Piestewa Peak, a favorite hiking place in winter months.

• Walk past the A1 to A16 gates toward the B concourse. About halfway down, look to your left again to catch a view of the iconic Camelback Mountain.

• If you have time to stroll down the B15 to B28 concourse, check out the view from B27 of The Buttes at Papago Park, which is home to the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanic Gardens.

One of the most iconic displays at PHX is a series of photographs of 100 Arizona ranchers taken by local photographer Scott Baxter in 2012 in honor of Arizona’s Centennial.

Those photographs can be seen in T4’s International Walkway.

There are two locations currently hosting an exhibit scheduled to run through early 2015 that focus on the 7 C’s of Arizona: Copper, Cattle, Cotton, Citrus, Climate, Cactus, Canyons. In this exhibit, various artists use, depict and/or reference the C’s in their artwork. There are eight display cases at the east and west ends of Level 3 in T4 that will be on display through February 15, 2015. The gallery on the south side and in the center of T4’s Level 3 will have this art on display through April 19, 2015.

If you have a bit longer for your layover, you can go outside the terminal and catch a bus to the nearby Rental Car Center. The most eye-catching display is the installation piece Crosstitch by Ed Carpenter. The building has a series of skylights that work with walls and ledges to create canyon-like spaces. Carpenter installed dichroic glass—glass coated with a thin layer of metallic oxides that transmit certain light wavelengths while reflecting others. The resulting iridescent effect changes each time you visit the building, depending on time of day, sunshine, clouds and weather conditions. In addition to this major installation, there are four hallways off the massive lobby with a diverse art collection. Prints, paintings, photographs and fiber art from Arizona artists are on display.

You can download a self-guided tour of the artwork at the Rental Car Center.

For Your Health

Airports are more in tune these days with the needs of travelers who want to stay healthy despite a grueling schedule. To help with that demand for healthy alternatives, PHX created the FiTPHX Airport Fitness Trail. The trail is inside security and you can follow it, using the downloadable map here to walk the terminals. Along the way, the map outlines several key points of interest that show off breathtaking Arizona landscapes.

Here are highlights as you walk the FiTPHX trail: • If you start at the end of the A17 to A30 concourse, stop at gate A28 for a view of the downtown Phoenix skyline.

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• Continue on toward the C concourse. About halfway between B15 and C11, you can get another look at The Buttes at Papago Park.

• Turn and continue toward Gates C1 to C10. About halfway down the moving sidewalk, you can see South Mountain Park Preserve. It’s easy to spot with an assortment of antennae on top.

• Continue past the C Concourse toward D gates. About halfway down, you can get another look at South Mountain.

• Turn to walk down D Concourse. At the end, between gates D7 and D8, you can check out the Arizona Air National Guard headquarters.

The PHX airport is constantly changing and adding new local eateries and shops. Be sure to check the website at skyharbor.com before you make plans for how you can spend your luxe layover at “America’s Friendliest Airport.”

Global Etiquette Hand and Greetings World

By Maralyn D. Hill

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any of us have heard the expression, “You have one chance to make a first impression.” Your handshake and/or greeting are part of that impression. I cannot begin to cover all countries, so I will cover what I know. In addition, times have changed and new customs are being introduced. That does not necessarily mean they are being adopted.

My references have included “Do’s and Taboos Around the World,” “Modern Manners,” as well as numerous articles I’ve read and experiences I’ve encountered. Some conflict, so I’d personally go with the lead of my host, to whom I’m being introduced.

I’ve gone with my experience.

Handshakes

There is a new modified handshake called “fist bumps.” Scientists claim it is the most hygienic and recommend it. Will it catch on? I’m not counting on it. Customs and traditions play a huge role in greetings and I’d pick the choice of following my host’s lead.

In the United States, a woman or man may offer their hand first for a handshake. However, on a global basis, a woman offers her hand first.

Algeria, Ghana, Hong Kong, and Kenya – Both when meeting and departing, a handshake is in order.

Australia – A good hearty handshake is welcome.

Bolivia and Uruguay – Handshaking is common.

Austria, Canada and Switzerland – Firm handshakes are usual on meeting and departing with good eye contact.

Caribbean – In general, shaking hands on meeting and leaving is practiced.

China – Handshakes are acceptable and a slight bow is appreciated. Age

and rank matter and the most senior are introduced first. Someone may introduce themselves with full name, full titles, and company name. If that happens, you should do the same. Be sure to wait for the Chinese to offer their hand. They may avert their eyes as a sign of respect and you may receive applause.

their hand first.

Russia – Generally, a Russian will state his name and shake hands during a first meeting. When greeting friends, there may be hugging and cheek kissing.

The Philippines – A handshake for men and women. Sometimes, a pat on the back for men.

Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway and Sweden – Shake hands on meeting and leaving with a firm brief handshake and eye contact.

Singapore – The handshake is the most common. Among Orientals, they may make a slight bow.

Germany – Brief firm handshakes for all, both greeting and leaving. Be sure not to have one hand in pocket.

Italy – Handshaking and gesturing are done by most, as well as using titles if someone has one. A man waits for a woman to offer her hand.

Taiwan – For acquaintances and friends, a handshake is usual. When meeting someone for the first time, a nod of the head does it.

United Kingdom – People generally greet with handshakes. However, not firm handshakes like the U.S. A lighter handshake is appreciated.

The Gulf States (Bahrain, Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates) and Saudi Arabia – Usually, they say “salaam alaykum,” then shake hands and say “kaif halak.” The host may put his left hand on your right shoulder and kiss you on both cheeks or take your hand and hold it as your walk. It is considered an insult to pull your hand away sharply, as holding on is a sign of friendship. Lingering handshakes are to be expected. Women are not included in this exchange.

Hugs, Kisses, Etc. Argentina – Men tend to hug each other and women with shake hands using both hands, while kissing on the cheek.

Belgium – Cheek kissing is done three times, as you alternate cheeks. You also shake hands when greeting and departing. Be sure to have good eye contact.

Brazil – Brazilians frequently embrace on the street, shake hands on meeting and leaving, and women meeting exchange kisses cheek to cheek and kissing the air or light cheek kisses.

It is quite common for Brazilians to stand quite close and touch the person. Handshakes may linger.

Ivory Coast, Morocco, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia – Handshaking is the custom.

Luxembourg and The Netherlands – Be sure to have a light handshake coming and going with everyone, while keeping eye contact.

Chile – On first introduction, a handshake is usual, with a kiss on the right cheek. Male Chileans may give another male a hug and women usually kiss each other on the cheek.

Malaysia – Shaking hands is common among men, but not as frequent between men and women.

New Zealand – Handshakes on meeting and leaving are appropriate. If women are present, wait for them to offer

Colombia – Men will shake hands with everyone when entering or leaving.

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Women usually avoid shaking hands, instead, they clasp forearms.

Costa Rica – Men shake hands and women kiss each other once on the cheek.

Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico – Handshake for first meeting, women who are close friends kiss on the cheek and men embrace.

El Salvador – Handshaking usual, but some just nod.

Fiji – A smile and raised eyebrows are your greeting, but handshakes are appropriate.

France – Use a brief and light handshake with everyone when greeting and leaving. A man might present his hand to a woman, and kiss the top of her hand. Friends and family usually hug and kiss both cheeks.

Greece – Almost anything goes.

The Greeks may kiss or offer a firm handshake at every meeting.

India – Whereas men shake hands with men on meeting and leaving, not women. Men should place palms together and bow slightly and not touch a woman or talk to one who is alone in public.

Indonesia – Shaking hands with a nod of the head is proper for first time introductions.

Japan – No handshake, just a slight bow of the head, is appropriate for Westerners. If you are dealing with a Western-educated Japanese individual, you will probably be greeted with a handshake and eye contact.

Nicaragua – Smile, shake hands, close friends embrace and pat back. Women generally give a slight hug and kiss each other on the cheek.

Business

dshakes dwide Pakistan – Handshakes are common, but close friends embrace. A man should not touch or shake hands with a woman in public. Be sure not to give or receive anything with your left hand.

Panama – Friends nod and embrace, with shaking hands appropriate among business associates.

Paraguay – People stand very close, men frequently embrace and women kiss each other on both cheeks.

Peru – Shake hands when meeting and leaving. Men will frequently give close friends a hug and women friends often will kiss on the cheek.

Portugal – Men tend to hug and slap each other’s back enthusiastically. For women who are close acquaintances, a kiss on both checks is common.

Puerto Rico – Shake hands, but close friends frequently embrace. Women tend to grasp each other’s shoulders and kiss each other on the cheek.

Puerto Ricans stand quite close while talking.

Sri Lanka – A light handshake and do not to give or receive anything with your left hand.

South Africa – Handshaking, talking and backslapping all go together.

South Korea – Men bow slightly to each other while shaking hands, using both hands or the right hand. Women nod, and in general, do not shake hands, and especially not with men.

Spain – Men who are friends will frequently hug, while women will give a slight embrace and kiss on each cheek.

Tahiti – Most shake hands on meeting.

Tahitians normally kiss on the cheeks during greeting.

Thailand – The Thai tradition is the “wai,” made when you place both hands together in a prayer position at the chest. However, if you are in a Westernized social setting, handshaking may take place. Wait for the person in charge to initiate the process.

Venezuela – Men greet with a hug and women with an embrace and kiss on the cheek.

Shaking hands is also common.

Names

Bangladesh – With men, shake hands (not as firm as U.S.), when introduced to a woman, nod and speak a greeting. Be sure not to give or receive anything with your left hand.

Finland – Better to use names for greetings. Avoid invading space.

Iceland – Greet with first names.

Israel – “Shalom” is the accepted greeting.

In advance, I apologize if I have left out a particular country or not covered a custom as accurately as it could be explained. For the sake of space, I minimized descriptions.

The main purpose of this article is to broaden your awareness of different customs of different cultures. Some cultures are uncomfortable if you are too close and others like to get up close. The better we can understand each other, the better we can communicate.

I certainly would look forward to any comments you might have on aspects I may have overlooked or situations you’ve encountered. Just send your letter to luxebeatmag@gmail.com Subject Line: Letter to Editor.

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Death of the 100-Point Wine ScaleÂ

By Michael Woodsmall

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Epicure

P

IMAGES COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK

erhaps it is “time.” Rather, it is time. As many traditional tyrannies go, quite crudely I might add, there is a so-called revolutionary changing of the guard (violent or otherwise), followed by a celebrated rise and initial rule where everyman is held as the victor (by the rulers and everyman alike). Then, there is a lull, where complacency has set in but favor begins to waver. This is followed by a volatile period when rule is questioned, but time-andagain re-established by brute force or sheer power. Finally, a new age cued to by a bang (overthrow) or a whimper. In the case of Robert Parker’s reign, it seems to be the latter, a waning presence punctuated by the occasional outburst from both sides of the argument. And while his impact is undying — the effect Before we get into the nitty gritty, let’s make one thing very clear.

As crudely (again outlined above), Parker is revolutionary, and without him and “The Wine Advocate,” wine’s inclusion into the mainstream would have happened a lot slower, if at all.

Now in his late sixties, Parker, former lawyer-turned-Dionysusianwine-scorer, has inscribed himself not only into history books, but irreversibly onto store and cellar shelves. His official position among the rank of critics has publicly lessened — he recently sold off

a significant part of “The Wine Advocate,” and passed down his Editor in Chief title to long-time Australian correspondent Lisa Perrotti-Brown — yet his 35 years as undisputed leader of the consumer wine guide (and consumer wine in general, for that matter) has determined drinking tendencies of countless millions of people. His subscription-based newsletter now reaches 50,000 people across the United States, as well as in 37 countries worldwide.

As almost anyone and everyone reading this will likely know, Parker’s scoring system is based on a 100 point scale, a 50 to 100 point range that has plenty of room for both the extraordinary (95 to 100, though Parker admitted the difference here is largely emotional) as well as the unacceptable (50 to 59). American culture being one that craves the easily quantifiable, this man’s final say was, indeed, all of our final say.

You might liken it to Ralph Nader, or for our purposes, Robert Finigan.

Though there were predecessors, including 20 point pioneer Dr. Maynard A. Amerine, none were as quickly and unquestioningly accepted as Parker. After all, Parker made it easy. By employing a standardized format — remember standardized testing in high school? — there was an unprecedented familiarity and, more importantly, relatability about wine. Novice drinkers no longer needed a palate to be a snob.

And it extended well beyond the demand side of consumer culture. In fact, in its transcendence of mere opinion, it was accepted as gospel, reaching and influencing even winemakers. Why wouldn’t it? Elin McCoy, author of The Emperor of Wine: The Rise of Robert M. Parker Jr., cites one Bordeaux shipper who claimed that “the difference between a score of 85 and 95 [for one wine] was 6 to 7 million Euro.”

qualities) was an upgrade in the way of “proportionately” (according to Parker) weighing wine’s different components — 50 base; up to 5 points for color and appearance, 15 for aroma and bouquet, 20 for flavor and finish, and 10 for overall — but was still subjective and, quite frankly, arbitrary. It should be duly noted that these scales don’t take actual wine’s nuanced characteristics into account.

They merely assigned values to general traits.

Also, it is no longer the seventies and eighties. Whereas back then, there were far fewer wines to choose from, increased accessibility makes employing a system like the 100 point scale narrow-minded.

Additionally, a by-product of all this scoring and (let’s call it what it is) marketing is that the American Public is now better educated, curious and prone to make their own decisions on the only major service Parker offered, tasting it for themselves.

However, there were issues with the 100 point scale. First and foremost, the so-called Parker Effect favors robust, fruity bombs — the taster has a well-documented obsession with Bordeaux and Rhône wines — as opposed to the more subtle and arguably more elegant varietals.

The Parkerization of wine was homogenization of the palate. We were told to like a certain kind, and as blind consumers do, we thereby liked that certain kind, the one Parker was keen to enjoy. Then there was the bigger problem with the system itself. His upgrade from the Davis System (which deducted points for wines lacking in certain

Parker has admitted: “No scoring system is perfect, but a system that provides for flexibility in scores, if applied by the same taster without prejudice, can quantify different levels of wine quality and provide the reader with one professional’s judgment. However, there can never be any substitute for your own palate nor any better education than tasting the wine yourself.”

In the end, the Parker Effect is exactly that — the Parker effect.

Without the eponymous founder around, “power” is returned to the 45

people, or in this specific situation, to critics who were largely ignored by the 100 point scale. As for “The Wine Advocate,” Parker will continue tasting and embracing Bordeaux and Rhône wines. But since PerrottiBrown is based out of Singapore, and has spent over a decade in Asia, she will undoubtedly be influenced by those preferences. And those preferences are evolving. China, an undeniable wine superpower these days, began this landscapealtering obsession in Bordeaux and like-bodied wines of equitable reputation. But it has matured to explore other regions, including their own, in a home-grown winemaking initiative.

Sure, the point system has been adopted by contemporaries from “The Wine Spectator”(100 point) to Jancis Robinson and Clive Coates (20 point). Yet, emphasis or reliance on such a system is making way to the bigger (or smaller, depending on your viewpoint) grassroots movements around the world. In this way, intimate and local variances introduced by terroirs and their environments are seen as important and not cast aside to the discount bin of the “unknown.” Will there continue to be consumers who buy and drink by scales? Of course.

Scales themselves are becoming more scientific and strangely personalized. But if there is any time in the last 35 years that Parker’s 100 point scale has looked its weakest, it is now.

A version of this article originally appeared on Grape Collective.

Chef Chris Chafe At The Doctor’s House Inn And Spa, Newfoundland

By Janice Nieder Neider

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T

o sample some of Newfoundland’s best food requires a one hour scenic drive (take note of the “Beware of Moose Crossing” signs) from St. John’s to the luxurious Doctor’s House Inn and Spa, tucked away in idyllic Greens Harbour, pop. 850. Then, tucked further away, most likely in the the kitchen or the greenhouse, you’ll find Chef Chris Chafe, the crown jewel of my bedazzling visit.

Between his good looks, charisma, strong work ethic and an abundance of talent, Chafe has certainly been on the fast track. First, he was the youngest executive chef ever hired in St. John’s, as well as a popular Top Chef Canada contender. Then, he went on to score a Silver at the Canadian Culinary Championships Gold Medal Plates, before nestling in to the Doctor’s Inn. Chef Chafe is a proud representative of Newfoundland’s rich culinary heritage, albeit with a whimsically, creative approach.

Q: How did you get your start?

A: Once I started as a dishwasher at the age of 16, I was hooked. A few years later, half-way though my bio-chemistry courses at University, I realized I would be much happier cooking than being a doctor, so I quit school and I’ve never looked back since.

Q: Did you then go to culinary school?

A: No. I’ve learned mostly from watching other chefs and also I spend endless hours devouring cookbooks. I have a huge collection of them at home, at least a couple hundred.

Q: When did you first become an executive chef?

A: I was 22 years old. I had been working at Magnun and Steins, in St. John’s, and a couple of people had quit, so I asked the owner to give me a shot, and he went for it.

Some people thought I was way too young for the position, but I guess I proved them wrong.

Q: Wasn’t it hard being a kid and taking on so much responsibility?

A: Not really. I’m quite disciplined and have a strong competitive streak from years of playing sports.

when I won the $5,000 prize for a doughnut challenge. (Chafe made a marvelous sounding blue-cheese doughnut with a raspberry port sauce and a pecan-pear-butterscotch topping.) However, it was really hard being away from my family, particularly when I had to miss my son, Declan’s, first birthday.

Q: Who was your mentor?

A: Luckily, I got to apprentice under Chef Antonio Esperanza at Magnun and Steins. He was the first person to give me a chance, regardless of my age.

Q: After cooking at Magnun and Steins and other popular restaurants, what is it like working at The Doctor’s House Inn & Spa? A: Well, I’ve only been here a few months, but it’s great. I live in St. John’s, so not only do I commute, but I also have to run back and forth to buy ingredients, which is one of the reasons we make everything from scratch here- from homemade bread to cheese and ice cream. Thankfully,

Q: Anyone special you’d like to cook with?

A: There are so many great chefs I’d love to work with…Thomas Keller, Charlie Trotter and I actually did have the pleasure of meeting Daniel Boulud.

Q: What was it like being on Top Chef?

A: It was pretty exciting, especially

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we have some on-site greenhouses where we grow much of our own produce.

Also, it’s been a big change from cooking for about 120 people a night to about a tenth of that. However, that’s about to change, since the dining room was previously open only for guests of the inn, but now anyone can eat here.

Q: If you weren’t a chef what would you do?

A: I’d probably be playing some sort of professional ball, either soccer or basketball.

Q: Where do you see yourself in ten years?

A: Ha! Probably where every chef would like to be – opening my own restaurant.

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The Art Of Beer Craf

By Sherrie Wilkolaski

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ktoberfest has been an annual tradition for over 200 years, give or take the few dozen years it was cancelled due to war, disease and other political complications. The first celebration commenced on October 12, 1810, with the wedding celebration of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of SaxonyHildburghausen in Munich. The official Oktoberfest is celebrated in Germany, and travelers from around the world make their pilgrimage to celebrate in the beer celebration capital of the world. If you cannot make the journey, there is sure to be a local gala happening in your hometown. To get the most out this year’s Oktoberfest, you should consider stopping into a local craft brew house.

FEATURE IMAGE COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK

The art of beer craftsmanship is being studied and perfected in small breweries around the world.

Professionals who work behind the scenes to develop the lagers, pilsners and ales we love to drink are true scientists. Blending hops, barley, grains with other unique ingredients is just as technologically challenging as crafting a wine, if not more so. Beer drinkers are looking for variety and no recipe is too outrageous.

In my quest to uncover the mysteries behind craft beer, I decided to pick up a few books and do my research.

There are three titles books out on the market, each covering a different aspect of the craft beer business and collectively, they really cover all fundamentals.

The first book I referenced was We Make Beer by Sean Lewis. It talks about the history of beer making, giving the reader a nice foundation for understanding how the art developed. It was a great first choice in my craft beer education. I enjoyed his style of writing and the author talks to the reader in a casual voice so that his personality comes

through. It makes for a modern history book read, not too heavy but informative.

Then I moved on to Beerology by Mirella Amato, and as the tagline says, it is “Everything you need to know to enjoy beer...even more.” It is beautifully laid out and it is easy to reference beer by individual type. It has wonderful charts and graphs that explain the science behind style comparisons, color, bitterness and alcohol content. It includes a Beerology Beer Tasting Evaluation Sheet and Beer Tasting Tool Kit. There are incredible photographs and a few beer cocktail recipes that use different types of brews from ales to stouts. This book is comprehensive, with a simple presentation that makes it easy for the reader to enjoy its content in small or large doses.

The book that rounded out my beer journey was The Foodie’s Beer Book: The Art of Pairing and Cooking with Beer for Any Occasion by Brooke Fedora and Luther Fedora. This book retails for $24.95 and as a hardcover, you do get your money’s worth. The book is broken down by season and includes recipes with beer pairings. There is enough variety in menus to satisfy just about any palate. My only criticism of this book is that photographs are dark and appear to have been taken by the authors. Since this book is traditionally published by Skyhorse Publishing, it took me by surprise that they did not use a professional photographer for images. If you can look past its dimly lit photos and focus on recipes, you’re sure to find a food and beer pairing that is to your liking.

As you make your way through your own craft beer journey, you’re sure to discover more than just a new favorite beer on tap. Look deeper and find out the history behind the beer sitting in front of you on the bar. Cheers!

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Epicure

ftsmanship

10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Beer 1. The best beer is not made by hand. After years of domination by big beer brand, beer drinkers sought out smaller batch breweries that eschewed the factory model of the Big 3 (Budweiser, Miller and Coors.)

But, like their larger competitors, most of the top craft breweries use highly automated processes to brew their beer as efficiently and consistently as possible.

2. The best beer is not made on automated systems either. This may contradict the first fact on the list, but that’s kind of the point. Good beer means different things to different people, and sometimes it’s the tiny imperfections and inconsistencies from batch to batch that provide the drinker the satisfaction of tasting a true craftsman’s handiwork.

3. Brewing is hard, wet and dirty work. Not only does most brewing involve cleaning tanks, washing kegs and lifting heavy bags of grain, but there's also a lot of mechanical knowhow required to operate a brewery.

4. Not all brewers have beards. There’s a common conception of the modern craft brewer as a white man with a big, bushy beard. Brewers like that certainly exist, but there are also breweries like Jackalope Brewing Company in Nashville, which was founded by two women Robyn Virball and Bailey Spaulding. There are certainly brewers of color as well, as brewing is an international profession practiced all over the world.

5. Brewery owners are not rich. Beer is big business, but not everyone in the industry is making big money. In fact, the opposite is often true for small breweries. At Blue Hills Brewing Company co-founded by Andris Veidis didn’t take home a paycheck for several years. Most brewery owners, at least the good ones, start their companies to make good beer - the money is just a perk.

6. It’s not just about the beer. Brewers are fond of saying that their only concern is making good beer, but the truth is that such a claim is mostly just good marketing. Every succesful brewer understands that the most important thing is to make a quality product, but that the next most important thing to have success, is to be able to market that product.

7. Traditional methods are not necessarily the best methods. There is a romantic attachment to traditional methods, but that doesn't’ mean that those methods work better than newer ones. As important as tradition is to brewing, so too is science and adapting to modern science. Newer techniques and methods have allowed contemporary brewers to get the most out of their ingredients and beers.

9. Craft beer drinkers are not snobs. The term “beer snob” was bandied about in the early days of craft beer to denote anybody who preferred to drink flavorful ales rather than mass-produced industrial light lagers. In reality, most beer drinkers these days are much more likely to be highly passionate individuals willing to accept their friends’ and neighbors’ opinions on beer as part of a wide spectrum of bee-drinking community.

10. The best brewing is always done at a brewery. It’s true that most consistent brewing is often done at a professional brewery where brewers are able to use scientific equipment to monitor pH levels, water temperatures and other measurements, but good beer can be made just as easily at home. Great beer can be made in the smallest of apartments with little more than a large pot, a plastic bucket, a thermometer and a good deal of patience.

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FROM SEAN LEWIS, AUTHOR OF WE MAKE BEER

8. Beer is a community. Even in small markets, perhaps especially in small markets, most brewers would rather collaborate with their fellow brewers than compete with them. The idea that one brewery’s success means the failure of another is beginning to fade in popularity, and the beer wards between breweries - even the big ones - are increasingly rare.

Images: Jessica Pearl and Kristin Hettermann. Aerial Photo:

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Epicure Beerology: Everything You Need to Know to Enjoy Beer...Even More

The Foodie’s Beer Book: The Art of Pairing and Cooking with Beer for Any Occasion

(MAY 2014)

(HARDCOVER – AUGUST 2014)

by Mirella Amato

If you’ve ever experienced the pleasure of a pint, Beerology is the ultimate guide to exploring, understanding and enjoying the world of beer.

THERE IS a beer for every mood, food and occasion. And, with the growing number of beer festivals popping up worldwide, beer is finally getting the attention and appreciation it deserves. For the average beer lover, the overwhelming choices, brewing styles and traditions can be confusing to say the least. Enter beer specialist Mirella Amato - one of only seven Certified Master Cicerones (beer sommeliers) in the world. With an advanced brewing certificate behind her, readers will be in expert hands as they navigate the multifaceted world of beer, guided

by Amato’s refreshingly accessible style.

Broken down into fun, easy-to-read chapters, Beerology starts with an introduction to beer and tips on storage and cellaring, then leads into a guide on tasting. Amato presents beer styles in four groups—Refreshing, Mellow, Striking, and Captivating—covering everything from the history and origins of specific brews, to brands that exemplify each type. She then gives tips on hosting beer-tasting parties at home, complete with beer games, and includes a chapter dedicated to beer cocktails (who’s in for a delicious cucumber Pils?).

Her original take on pairing beer with food—including chocolate and cheese—is perfect for anyone with an inquisitive mind and an epicurean streak.

WE MAKE BEER: Inside the Spirit and Artistry of America’s Craft Brewers

by Sean Lewis (SEPTEMBER 2014)

An eye-opening journey into craft beer–making in America, and what you can find in the quest to brew the perfect pint.

Sean Lewis was living in Boston when he first set foot inside the Blue Hills Brewery. He was writing for BeerAdvocate magazine about America's craft brewers, and the then-fledgling Blue Hills was his first assignment. Lewis was immediately struck by the spirit of the brewers he met there. That visit would lead him first to an intensive study of beer-brewing, and later to a nation-spanning journey into the heart— and the art—of American beer making.

What Lewis found along the way was a group of like-minded craftsmen— creators who weren't afraid to speak their minds, who saw their competitors as cherished friends.

A group who takes sheer joy in their work, and who seeks the same kind of balance in their lives as they do in the barrels they brew. He shared pints with pioneering upstarts like Paul and Kim Kavulak of Nebraska Brewing Company, and talked shop with craft beer stalwarts like Ken Grossman of Sierra Nevada and bombastic innovators like Greg Koch (the "Arrogant Bastard" behind Stone Brewing Co.).

He found, in them and others, a community that put its soul into its work, who sees beer-making as an extension of themselves.

We Make Beer is not just a celebration of American brewing, but of the spirit that binds brewers together. It's about what you can discover in yourself when you put your hands and your heart into crafting the perfect pint.

by Brooke Fedora and Luther Fedora Epic Beer Dinners is the ultimate celebration of beer and food pairings. A glass of beer alone can be a splendid thing, but when incorporated into your cooking and served alongside the dish, it can be a symphony of flavor. Chefs Brooke and Luther Fedora explain the many ways beer can enrich and enhance a dish or an entire meal by providing a wealth of recipes and suggested pairings. Begin by exploring beer varieties and their characteristics; helping you to learn the various flavor notes that are the foundation for cooking and pairings.

A hoppy beer, for example, can add bite to a dish and is best for batters and light dishes, but is inappropriate for long simmering dishes where it instead

strengthens the inherent bitterness of the dish. Malt, on the other hand, can add a mellow sweetness that is pleasing in stewed dishes and marinades.

Have fun with dinner again, as you explore the wide variety of flavor profiles made possible through the addition of beer—from a traditional cassoulet laced with a malty dark ale to the lemony snap of a light Berliner Weisse paired with a lemon sorbet.

Recipes are broken down by various regions and seasons. Making it possible to drink your way through the calendar year with recipes and tips for various events and holidays, including: St. Patricks Day, New Year’s Eve, Mardi Gras, Christmas, and Oktoberfest. So grab yourself a pint and dig in!

Cocktail Recipe Cucumber Pi ls The s

ummery coc ktail brings together th e fresh flav ours of cucumber an d lime with herbal notes from both gin and pilsner.

The resultin g combinati on of flavours tak es the refre shing nature of th e pilsner to a whole new level!

1½” (4cm) t

hick slices o f cucumber (peeled) 1tsp (5ml) g ranulated su ½tsp (2ml) gar lime juice ( j uice of half a lime) ½oz (15ml) gin 1½oz (75ml ) pilsner* cucumber w heel for gar nish Cut the cuc umber slices into thin strips. Mudd le the cucum ber, sugar and lime jui ce at the bo ttom of an 8oz (240ml) rocks glass.

Add gin and stir. Ha lf-fill the gl ass with ice. Gently pour in the pilsner and garnish with a cucumber wheel * C AN ALSO

BE MADE WIT H COMMON

RECIPE COU

LAGER

RTESY OF BE EROLOGY BY MIRELLA AM ATO

S C A R T S School of culinary arts With french master chef hervĂŠ laurent

Graduates' placement is our success!

www.scarts.com.sv

Epicure

Cocktail Recipes from Moonshine Nation The Art of Creating Cornbread in a Bottle If you’re looking for your first introduction to Moonshine, why not try it in a cocktail!

Here are a few recipes from Moonshine Nation

Apple Pie Manhattan

Blueberry Basilito 4 basil leaves 2tsp sugar 2tbsp sparkling-water 1 ½oz frozen blueberries 1 ½oz Midnight Moon Blueberry 2tbsp lime juice Place basil, sugar, and sparkling water in a highball glass and muddle lightly.

Add blueberries, crush and stir. Add ice, Midnight Moon Blueberry, and lime juice.

Stir gently and serve with a straw.

Howling Bloody Moon 1 ½oz Howling Moon moonshine 8oz Bloody Mary mix pickled okra green olives lemon and lime wedges Mix moonshine and bloody Mary mix together in a highball glass with ice and stir. Garnish with okra, olives, and citrus.

RECIPE COURTESY OF HOWLING MOON

RECIPE COURTESY OF PIEDMONT DISTILLERS

About the Book: Moonshine is corn whiskey, traditionally made in improvised stills throughout the Appalachian South.

While quality varied from one producer to another, the whiskey had one thing in common: It was illegal because the distiller refused to pay taxes to the US government. Many moonshiners were descendants of Scots-Irish immigrants who had fought in the original Whiskey Rebellion in the early 1790s. They brought their knowledge of distilling with them to America along with a profound sense of independence and a refusal to submit to government authority. Today many Southern states have relaxed their laws and

3 parts MB Roland Apple Pie Kentucky Shine 1 part MB Roland True Kentucky Shine ¼ part sweet vermouth cherry, apple slice, cinnamon stick, or ground cinnamon, for garnish.

Combine ingredients in a shaker over ice. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.

Garnish with cherry, apple slice, and cinnamon stick and/ or sprinkle of cinnamon powder.

RECIPE COURTESY OF MB ROLAND

now allow the legal production of moonshine— provided that taxes are paid. Yet many modern moonshiners retain deep links to their bootlegging heritage. Moonshine Nation is the story of moonshine’s history and origins alongside profiles of modern moonshiners—and a collection of drink recipes from each.

About the Author: Mark Spivak is an award-winning writer specializing in wine, spirits, food, restaurants, and culinary travel. He was the wine writer for the Palm Beach Post from 1994-1999, and was honored by the Academy of Wine

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Communications for excellence in wine coverage “in a graceful and approachable style.” Since 2001 he has been the Wine and Spirits Editor for the Palm Beach Media Group, as well as the restaurant critic for Palm Beach Illustrated. His work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Robb Report, Art & Antiques, Men’s Journal, the Continental and Ritz-Carlton magazines, Arizona Highways, and Newsmax. A broadcaster for many years, he is currently working with Matrix Media to host Quench!, a weekly podcast that reveals the untold stories behind everyone’s favorite alcoholic beverages, available on iTunes and at webtalkradio.net.

Beer Town USA Goes Upscale

ALL PHOTOS BY LEAH WALKER.

By Dena Roche

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ilwaukee -- It’s long held the reputation as Beer Town, and today, even though the city shines with a Calatrava art museum, funky converted warehouse districts, trendy restaurants and chic boutiques, beer still is an iconic part of the city for travelers.

Just as the beer culture has changed from Milwaukee’s Best to craft brews like Lakeshore and Sprecher, the hotel scene has morphed from Holiday Inn to independent, boutique properties like the Brewhouse Inn & Suites.

And yes, this year and a half old hotel is in the old Pabst Brewery.

How’s that for getting your beer in a luxury and trendy way?

Pabst was an integral part of the Milwaukee landscape, brewing downtown from 1882 to 1996.

In the conversion to the 90-suite green property, much of the original structure and architectural elements were kept intact, leading to an upscale hotel that blends gritty and chic into a seamless experience. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The hotel is part of “The Brewery,” a 20-acre LEED Platinum certified neighborhood, one of only five in the world. While it welcomes travelers for any duration, it’s designed for guests staying five days or more, as each suite has a full kitchen.

Walking in to check in, I’m greeted at a front desk made from more than 1500 beer bottles. On the second floor are several copper tanks that used to be part of the brewing process. Rooms have touches of whimsy, like a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer bucket and a stool by the dressing table covered in fabric with a “Milwaukee Malt” logo. You won’t need beer goggles to appreciate the homage to beer and brewing here.

There is no dearth of bars near the hotel, but if you’re in town on a Sunday, take the Riverwalk threehour boat tour, which cruises down the Milwaukee River, and includes a brewery tour and stops at three microbreweries.

Speaking of brewery tours, the most fun tour I’ve done

anywhere in the world was Lakeshore Brewery. The combination of humor, information and of course, beer is not to be missed. Tours are also available at Sprecher and Miller.

With all the drinking, you’re going to need to get some food in you.

In the last few years, the restaurant scene has exploded with hipster and gourmet options, primarily in Bay View, The Third Ward and Fifth Ward areas, which are all neighborhoods near downtown.

Open for just two months, Goodkind is located in a converted house in Bay View and is very much a local hang-out. Millennial owner Katie Rose tells me she and her co-owners did much of the renovation work themselves and when neighbors saw the construction, they actually pitched in and helped create the space.

There’s that Midwest friendliness in action. This homey establishment emphasizes craft cocktails and locally sourced ingredients. In fact, the menu changes nightly and can feature anything from house speciality rotisserie items to vegetarian options like tempeh or vegetable tanginess.

If sushi floats your boat, and it sure floats mine, head to Screaming Tuna on the bank of the Milwaukee river in the Fifth Ward or Kanpai Izakaya in the Third Ward. Cafe Benelux’s rooftop patio is a perfect spot to enjoy city views and dine on Belgium and American staples for lunch or dinner. It also has a 40 page beer menu, albeit focused on Belgium, not Wisconsin brews.

Milwaukee is a town filled with bars, from dive bars, to craft beer watering holes to wine bars. Next to Screaming Tuna is the new Wine Maniac, or head to Black Sheep to try different wines on tap.

For beer, the Uber Tap Room at Wisconsin Cheese Mart pairs 36 dairy state brews with over 175 local cheeses. The Palm Tavern, Sugar Maple and Roman’s Pub were all named in Draft Magazine’s 100 best beer bars for 2013.

While Milwaukee has clearly evolved past the days of PBR, the city has stayed true to its brewing roots, offering visitors a chance to learn the history, taste amazing craft beers and spend the night where it all began.

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Epicure

Black Ink Cult Wine For The Masses

By Sherrie Wilkolaski

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lack Ink is a cult wine for the masses. With the Halloween season upon us. what better way to celebrate than with a dark, sinister red wine with a dose of a secret component?

I imagine a group of old witches standing over the cauldron, debating which ingredient they’ll blend in with this batch of red wine; something obscure that won’t be detected by the human eye, but on the tongue, will be noticed by the finest of pallets. “Why not squid ink?” one of the enchantresses suggests, and the rest is history.

Black Ink is a lifestyle brand that is a bit more serious of a wine than competitive brands at this price point.

The TGIC Global Fine Wine Company announced the launch of Black Ink, a juicy new red wine blend from California. They wanted to be sure that what’s in the bottle represents the branding, so they went through quite a bit to get the blend to that perfect expression of dark fruit. It’s consumer friendly and tailored to mass and millennial appeal, with less residual sugar than adjacent brands that may come to mind.

celebration of decadence, juicy blackberry cobbler meets smoky licorice with a hint of spice. The capsule is marked with the elusive squid, in a nod to the deep dark red hues within the bottle.

Black Ink sketches the basis of a cult wine for the masses. Over-delivering on quality for price, Black Ink is for those with a permanent love affair with red wine.

Black Ink launched in September, 2014. Wines are priced at $9.99.

If you’re looking for a macabre wine to serve at your Halloween costume party or just something different to celebrate on a dark stormy night, Black Ink is sure to intrigue your guests and if nothing else is a great conversation piece.

The idea was born from creating something that represented dark fruit and coloring in the bottle. The squid was chosen because it’s elusive and mysterious.

Founded by Chilean wine visionary, Alex Guarachi, in 1985, TGIC Global Fine Wine Company is committed to representing the best wines of the world. TGIC is a leading importer, marketer and innovator of fine wines, and relies on enduring connections with national suppliers, distributors and retail partners to enrich consumer experiences. TGIC was one of the first importers of Chilean and Argentine wines and today represents brands from around the world.

Black Ink is an ode to fantasy through the arts, portraying elegance with an edge. In a

For more information on Black Ink or TGIC Global Fine Wine Company, go to www.tgicwine.com.

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Epicure

Take-In Gourmet Dinners

By Sherrie Wilkolaski

dcuisine Entree Yucatan Chicken

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f you travel as much as I do, when I finally get home, the last thing I want to think about is cooking a meal. Let’s be frank, even when I’m home for a long stretch, I’m not too keen on cooking. Instead, I prefer to make things like soup, or one-pot dishes that I can graze on throughout the week, given my hectic schedule. When I was asked to try take-in gourmet dinners by dcuisine, a test drive, I couldn’t refuse. The idea of not having to cook anything from scratch, with the chance that a frozen meal would be restaurant quality, sounded like a good idea. Let’s talk about my experience with this product.

IMAGES © DCUISINE

The first meal I tested out was the guilt free Yucatan Stuffed Chicken Breast. It was a “roasted chicken breast stuffed with organic corn, zucchini, and masa harina that is served in a red pepper achiote sauce finished with cilantro and a hint of lime.”

Preparations started with a pot of boiling water and removing my frozen meal from the freezer.

I opened the slick black box, which looks like a high-end take out container, and in it found a vacuum sealed bag with the meal tucked inside. The frozen concoction was dropped into a pot of boiling water

Nonna’s Meatballs and Marinara Sauce

roasted, then simmered in a rich tomato sauce finished with parsley and basil.” I selected vermicelli and it was ready just in time to be married with the meatballs and sauce.

and cooked for approximately 30 minutes. I removed the bag from the water, cut it open and slid my meal onto my plate. It was lunch time and I don’t typically eat a lot at that time of day, so I only ate half of the meal. It was good. My favorite part was the zucchini and I wish the meal would have had more of it. The chicken was moist and the filling was plentiful. The meal overall was good and something that I wouldn’t prepare for myself even if I had the free time. However, it made a nice change from my usual soup or cereal lunch option. It would have been nicer to have a little more kick to the sauce, given the numerous spices that were listed on the ingredients, I did expect it to have a tad more flavor. This meal retails for $15.

There were three meatballs and ample sauce to blend with my pasta and enough food to give me leftovers for the next day. Rarely do I eat meatballs, so it was a bit of a treat. It was only after I finished the meal that I read the box and hadn’t realized there was veal in this dish. If I had seen this prior to eating it, I would have passed on the meatballs and just entertained the marinara sauce. I was in a rush and just excited to have an easy to prepare dinner that night. It was generally a good, simple Italian meal.

This meal retails for $12 and does not come with pasta.

The next meal I tested was dcuisine’s Nonna’s Meatballs and Marinara Sauce. I was not properly introduced to Nonna, but assuming she is someone’s grandmother, my taste buds were anticipating the homecooked flavor of this meal. Again, into the boiling water my dinner went, and as it submerged and bubbled, I went to the pantry and grabbed some pasta to accompany the meatballs and sauce. This was a “delicate blend of all natural beef, veal, and pork blended with pecorino cheese that is hand formed and

These meals cannot be microwaved and need about 30 minutes each to prepare. The cost per meal is much higher than you would pay for a typical grocery store frozen dinner, but portions were very good and I was able to make two substantial meals out of one helping.

Sam Metzger is the Founder & CEO of dcuisine. In the 1980s, he brought to America the Chipwich, the first chocolate chip ice cream sandwich.

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More than a billion Chipwiches were sold and the brand was purchased by Nestle. dcuisine is Metzger’s current culinary project. Chef Ken Arnone is Co-founder of dcuisine and a Certified Master Chef, one of just 67 Certified Master Chefs in the country.

Customers interested in the dcuisine product can order meals directly from the dcuisine website at www. dcuisine.com. Orders can be as few as four meals at a time or as many items at they would like, whenever they’d like. Unlike other online food services, there is no subscription required. dcuisine dinners are shipped, packed in dry ice, on Mondays. Orders received before Monday at 3 AM Eastern Time will be shipped that Monday. Orders received after the Monday cutoff time will be shipped the following Monday. All orders are shipped by UPS, guaranteed to arrive within three days, anywhere in the United States.

If you’re looking for the convenience of having takin-in frozen dinners on hand, without the hassle of going to the grocery store, dcuisine might be the perfect fit. If you’re looking for a 3-star Michelin meal, you’re still going to have to go directly to the restaurant.

Thank you to dcuisine for providing the meals for review.

DELICIOUS BY DESIGN.

Stone Fruit Skillet Pie with Basil Blossoms

by Eva Kosmas Flores.

FINEXUSA.COM

Epicure

The Past Is Re-Invented With A FINEX Cast Iron Skillet ®

By Maralyn D. Hill

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s a child, my grandmother used a cast-iron skillet, as her mother had before her.

A decade ago, I gave my 12-inch antique skillet to my daughter, who still uses it. Cast iron skillets have stood the test of time. I have a small 6” skillet I use for baking cornbread. Numerous times, I’ve considered purchasing another cast-iron skillet, but I knew I really did not need one.

by this opportunity, as they had told me it would be similar but very different. Really, cast iron is cast iron. I was wrong.

Much to my delight and surprise, I was asked to review a 12” FINEX® Cast Iron Skillet. I was quite excited

Weighing 7.9 pounds, it is heavy.

The skillet has a “Good Forever,” warranty and retails for $195.

What I really like is its quick-cooling polished stainless steel spring handles. The heat dissipates rapidly and would be comfortable for almost any hand. The FINEX® cooking surface has an easy release and it comes pre-seasoned with Organic Flaxseed Oil, with directions how to re-season it, if necessary. So far, I’ve used my skillet for sautéing and baking.

I’m enamored with my FINEX® Cast iron Skillet. It is a re-invention of a time-honored classic, familiar in many homes for over several centuries. The skillet FINEX® has a patented octagonal shape, so you can pour from any direction.

“Founded in 2012, FINEX® Cast Iron Cookware Company is a small team of Portland-based perfectionists, dedicated to making heirloom quality cast iron cookware in America for the first time in well over half a century.”

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FINEX® raised money to finance this endeavor through a Kickstarter campaign and are currently running another campaign to enable them to offer an 8” FINEX® cast iron skillet.

I’m sure it will be successful, as the skillet is a great product.

It’s quite nice to have the opportunity to see a time honored classic, re-engineered and improved. I highly endorse the FINEX® Cast Iron Skillet.

To learn more about FINEX® go to finexusa.com.

Santa Barbara’s Four Seasons Hotel Every Season Counts

ALL PHOTOS BY LEAH WALKER.

By Michael Cervin

Wellness

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here are few places that feel destined to be exactly where they are – the Four Seasons in Santa Barbara is one of them. Situated just yards from Montecito’s dog-friendly Butterfly Beach, with consummate views of the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands lining the horizon, the Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore, Santa Barbara (its lengthy official title) is classic Santa Barbara. Built in 1927, the original coffered ceilings and saltillo floor tile in the lobby reflect the Spanish Colonial Revival design that was all the rage in the later 1920s. Period furnishings (some from the original property, some not) fill the spacious lobby. The Four Seasons is a gracious Spanish hacienda, with red bougainvillea vines scaling white walls, red tiled roofs, and colorful Mexican tiles, exactly what the perception of Santa Barbara is to most people.

As you should rightly expect, there are a plenty of amenities, including lighted tennis courts with a tennis pro and a spa with state of the art workout room. But perhaps the most prized is the next-door Coral Casino: A private cabana and beach club with an Olympic size pool within yards of the beach and one of Santa Barbara’s most exclusive restaurants, Tydes, named after owner, Beanie Baby king Ty Warner. Access is available to guests who book Premier and Executive rooms at the Four Seasons, allowing them use of the pool and cabanas. Otherwise, if you book Superior or Deluxe accommodations, access to the Coral Casino is $200 per day. However, dinner and lunch at Tydes are available to all guests of the hotel and a visit here is a must.

Though there is a limited menu, the food is superb and may range from east coast diver scallops with mushroom ragu, to braised Kurobuta pork with black vinegar caramel reduction sauce and petit kale salad.

something rare for Santa Barbara, a proper Afternoon Tea, served on Friday and Saturdays, which has been ongoing since 1987 and includes two courses; the first course of finger sandwiches and the second an assortment of pastries, scones and other decadent goodies. Of course, tea is the mainstay and there are a dozen teas to choose from, including standards ranging from Earl Grey to peppermint herbal, and Japanese sencha. You can upgrade to the Montecito Tea, which adds a glass of sherry, or the Royal Tea, which adds a glass of Champagne or Kir Royale.

second only to the back patio, with a newly built plunge pool capable of holding 12 people. All mattresses were made specifically for the Four Seasons and the mattress tops are interchangeable. Therefore, you can request plush or firm depending on your preference. Of the 207 rooms and suites, only 11 are ocean-view.

I was curious as to why a hotel like this would have so few rooms facing the property’s best asset – proximity to the ocean. The answer was that “back in the day” (we tend to forget there was a time before TVs and smartphones), people gathered in hotel lobbies for games, conversation and social interaction.

Therefore, there was an emphasis on

Rooms & Grounds

Ranging from 350 to 2,000 square feet, all of the rooms have hand stenciling around the entrance, a throwback to an earlier time. Suites have self-heating floors and each room is different in terms of décor and color. But thematically, they all stay true to simple clean furnishings, a basic color palate and open floor plans; there is nothing ostentatious.

Rooms also have deep soaking tubs and water spigots on the side of the tub, not the end, making it easier for actual lounging in them. There are 12 cottages which all have wood floors, including the Ty Warner Cottage. Also known as the Presidential Suite, this building was once the home of the former owner.

The suite has a huge living area,

The Ty Lounge, located adjacent to the hotel lobby, opens at 3 p.m. each day, with live piano music on Friday and Saturday nights, and Wednesday is Spanish music night. Its onyx back bar lit from behind looks like a glorious wall of butterscotch, and this low key gathering spot has patio access with views to the Pacific Ocean. The hotel’s Bella Vista restaurant, serving lunch and dinner, has an emphasis on Italian nuances from Chef Alessandro Cartumini, with a preponderance of ingredients sourced locally. In addition to all that, the Four Seasons offers 65

the lobby being one of the most important aspects of the hotel.

Views to the beach, just a few steps away, were much less important in the 1920s than they are today.

Regardless, the beach is just across the street.

The hotel’s 22 acres are filled with 2,000 different species of lush tropical plants and palms, including diverse trees like the pigmy date palm, Australian coral tree, Mexican weeping bamboo, and African tulip tree. An hour-long free garden tour is offered every Tuesday morning and you needn’t be a guest of the hotel to join the tour. The Monte Vista lawn, located in the back of the

d i s c o v e r c h a r l e v o i x ’s h i d d e n g e m

reservations 1 800 441 1414 fairmont.com/richelieu

The castle on the cliff.

Guardian of the mighty St. Lawrence River.

Perched majestically between the ever-changing St. Lawrence River and the rolling terrain of Quebec’s unrivalled Charlevoix region, the Manoir has its special place in history.

And in memory. Tales of elegant hospitality, spectacular golf, exquisite cuisine, non-stop activities all year round ... or total relaxation. Come experience it for yourself!

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HÔTEL

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GOLF

Wellness property, offers a small putting green and separate croquet lawn.

It was the setting for TVs “The Bachelor” wedding in early 2014.

pre or post spa respite, the garden by the entrance with its three-tiered fountain with views to the beach is perfect.

Spa and Gym

Begin your Spa treatment in the Relaxation Lounge, a second floor quiet room, that offers dried fruits and nuts, a fireplace in the corner and ocean views visible from plush comfortable chairs. Treatment rooms with clear maple wood flooring are designed for singles, though there are also couples suites. Four of the treatment rooms are master suites, with an outdoor patio and views to the ocean, a Jacuzzi tub and two massage tables. You can have in-room massages and nail services if you prefer the comfort of your own accommodations, and Champagne can be incorporated into any service.

Locker rooms include dry saunas and separate steam rooms with mist that is infused with menthol, which is strong but not potent and helps clear sinuses. Showers in the locker rooms, as in all of the Spa, have rain bars, allowing you to get only your body wet, rather than your hair and face, and rain heads if you prefer the full deluge. It’s no surprise that you can get almost anything you want, from massages including stone work,

The Four Seasons opened its Spa in 2002, though the building itself for the Spa was built in the 1970s.

Careful attention was given to making it feel seamless with the rest of the historic property. Its soft, comfortable and subdued interiors were designed by Peter Marino, whom Architectural Digest listed as one of the top 100 best interior designers for 2014. The Spa is as comfortable and relaxing as its beach-side location.

There are beach cruisers for families available for rent, 11 treatment rooms, and an on-site trainer upon request. The gym portion of the Spa was outfitted in 2014 with state of the art Technogym treadmills, allowing guests to upload any exercise apps they may already have on their smart phone. This way, they don’t miss a scheduled workout. The equipment includes air conditioning units and touch screens, so guests can exercise in specific places filmed on location, such as San Francisco. There are free weights and you can schedule private yoga or Pilates classes as well. For a

Swedish, and maternity massage, to facials. One of the most popular treatments is the Grape De Vine scrub, using grape seed directly from Santa Barbara wine country. Since the Four Seasons is pet-friendly, it offers in-room dog massage so Fido can feel frisky too.

Water Works

The Spa offers three outdoor pools, all flanked by lush vegetation, including a main pool that is heated to 86 degrees and is outfitted with an underwater sound system. There are also two smaller whirlpools, and one is filled with mineral water drawn from the property itself, heated to 104 degrees. The other small pool, ideal for kids, uses

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non-well water and is heated to 94 degrees. During summer months, there is poolside service, including treats from Santa Barbara’s oldest ice cream shop, McConnell’s.

A visit to Santa Barbara’s Four Seasons is a step back in time, with its historic property, flush with modern amenities. Such an experience represents an ideal way to visit this coastal town.

Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara 1260 Channel Drive Santa Barbara, California 93108 Tel. +1 (805) 969-2261 www.fourseasons.com/ santabarbara/

5 Top Luxury Resort Spas In Scottsdale Arizona

By Susan Lanier-Graham

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cottsdale, Arizona has some of the world’s most luxurious resort spas in the world. No one is certain why the area has so many award-winning spas. Perhaps it’s the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert or endless Arizona skies or wisdom of Native Americans who call the Southwest home. Whatever the reason,

Scottsdale’s resorts offer unique treatments, many using ingredients of the desert’s rich bounty—adobe clay to purify the skin, agave to soothe dry skin, jojoba oil to heal, prickly pear to moisturize and creosote to cleanse. Here are some of the most luxurious resort spas in Scottsdale.

Wellness Waldorf Astoria Spa at The Boulders

The setting for the Waldorf Astoria Spa is magical. Located on the northern border between Scottsdale and Carefree, The Boulders is a secluded retreat surrounded by ancient boulders scattered across the desert landscapes. The Waldorf Astoria Spa embraces what it calls a “Zen Desert Lifestyle”—luxurious yet simple, with an emphasis on serenity, healing and a connection to the Earth.

Here, you can meditate in a Native American TiPi, commune with a shaman, walk the outdoor labyrinth or amble through the gardens and lily pond. The real luxury, however, is the magic that happens in treatment rooms. The spa’s signature treatment is the Turquoise Wrap. Native Americans believe turquoise ensures protection and self-confidence. In this treatment, a turquoise clay wrap follows a salt scrub. The 80-minute treatment is relaxing for the body and soul.

soul’s journey, using your astrological chart.

For the ultimate luxury experience, book the private Sun Suite for a half or full day. You will enjoy services in the privacy of your suite, which include a private veranda and outdoor whirlpool, fireplace and steam shower. The suite experience includes a spa lunch.

Even if you forego the private suite, the spa at The Boulders offers a welcoming respite from the busy world. While visiting, you can enjoy the steam room, dry sauna, private heated pool, whirlpool and fitness center. You can also book services for hair and nails at the salon and savor fresh flavors at the spa café.

Waldorf Astoria Spa at The Boulders 34631 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Carefree, AZ 480.595.3500 (spa) 480.488.9009 (resort) theboulders.com/waldorf-astoria-spa

Another signature treatment at Waldorf Astoria Spa is the Desert Zen Signature massage. During the 50- or 80-minute treatment, you start with a relaxing Swedish massage. After your body is relaxed, the therapist uses slow calming strokes for the ultimate peaceful end to your treatment.

For those who want to tap into the unique energy at The Boulders, there is a large selection of balancing and energy treatments.

You can choose from acupuncture, chakra balancing, private meditations, or even an astrological soul reading that traces your

The Spa at Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North is in far north Scottsdale, with breathtaking views over the entire Valley of the Sun and nearby Pinnacle Peak. Accommodations at this luxury resort vary from desert-inspired casita rooms to one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. Spa guests may prefer to book the one-bedroom Oasis Suites, each of which includes a private heated plunge pool and outdoor fireplace.

The Spa at Four Seasons Scottsdale has 16 treatment rooms, including a couples’ suite and exclusive Spa Suite. Many of the treatments at the spa include desert botanicals, such as the jojoba and prickly pear polish or the Sonoran honey body polish. For 69

a truly unique experience, book the Pinnacle Facial, which uses antiinflammatory properties of gold for the face and a gold-infused sugar scrub and shimmer oil for the body.

The Spa includes a full-service salon with hair and nail services. Guests can also take fitness classes or book guided fitness hikes in Pinnacle Peak Park. For the ultimate pampering, bring the spa to you and enjoy your choice of treatments in the privacy of your own casita or suite.

The Spa at Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North 10600 E. Crescent Moon Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 480.515.5700 fourseasons.com/scottsdale/spa/

Joya Spa at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia

The Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia is a Spanish-inspired resort in Paradise Valley, sitting at the foot of Camelback Mountain.

Montelucia is Spanish for “mountain of light” and the perfect name for the resort. As you watch the sun set and illuminate craggy edges of the Camelback, you will be in awe of this desert jewel. Joya Spa is the resort’s Moroccan-inspired spa that will transport you to another world.

Joya Spa’s signature fragrance, Joyambrosia, is derived from the cactus flower known as the “Queen of the Night.” This unique flower, which only blooms rarely and for just one night under the light of a full moon, was discovered near the entrance to the spa during its construction. The signature Joyambrosia Signature Massage combines gentle stretching and Thai based movements with the Joyambrosia oil blend to offer a revitalizing treatment.

From the moment you enter the spa, you will find yourself transported to

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess opened in North Scottsdale in December 1987. Since then, the Scottsdale Princess has become one of the country’s premier golf and spa resorts, receiving the AAA Five-Diamond award every year since 1990. When you arrive at the resort,

another time and place. Begin your spa journey with the Joy of Purification, which is a 57 pound quartz crystal displayed under a simulated night sky from Granada, Spain. As you pass under the starry sky and pass the crystal, you can leave your cares behind and enter the peaceful spa.

Joya Spa offers a selection of facials, massages and body treatments, along with wellness and meditation services such as astrology readings, private meditations, hypnotherapy, tarot reading, acupuncture, acupressure and even an unusual lip print reading. Joya Spa also has a traditional Hammam therapy you can add to any other treatment.

The Hammam includes a body scrub, followed by steam, whirlpool, sauna, cold deluge and a tiled warming room.

This Moroccan-themed spa facility includes a fitness center, steam room, dry sauna, whirlpool, relaxation room, one of the most amazing quiet areas—known as a Whisper Room—in all of Arizona.

There is a salon for hair and nail

visits when you can watch weekend fireworks from your private balcony.

you enter a world in which you become a VIP. Fairmont Gold members can check in at the special members-only desk. There are a variety of accommodations, all offering views of either the McDowell Mountains or the golf courses. My favorite rooms are those looking out over the lagoon, which are especially nice during summer

Well & Being at Willow Stream Spa is the ideal place to relax while you’re at the Princess. Well & Being is a unique fusion of spa and wellness. The spa facility, which is located off Hacienda Plaza, is inspired by Havasupai Falls, an oasis deep in the Grand Canyon. The spa includes aspects of all elements— air, water, earth, wood and fire.

This spa offers an assortment of mind-body classes, including meditation, traditional yoga and the new Aerial Hammock Yoga classes.

There are cooking classes in the exhibition kitchen in the spa’s atrium (where you can also enjoy a healthy and delicious spa lunch). A fitness center provides state-of-the-art equipment. One of the most unusual features of Well & Being is the canyon oasis and waterfall treatment area. This outdoor co-ed area has an amazing waterfall that provides you with a water massage, unlike anything you can find elsewhere.

To embrace the Southwestern setting, you can schedule a treatment such as the two-hour 70

Havasupai Falls Rejuvenation, which begins with a purifying scrub with desert salts infused with indigenous essential oils. After that, you soak in a bath filled with herbal foaming salts, then receive a massage with jojoba body butter and hot riverbed stones. Follow that with a warm wrap, while the therapist streams warm herbal-infused oil over your forehead, followed by a soothing scalp massage.

Another amazing treatment at Well & Being is the Tranquillow Face & Back Experience. In this 90-minute treatment, you receive a back cleanse, followed by warm lavender massage oil drizzled along your spine and dispersed with energizing strokes. Then, you receive a luxurious facial and have warm lavender oil massaged into your scalp.

The spa at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has separate male/female changing areas and lockers, wet steam room, eucalyptus inhalation room, Swedish dry sauna, hot therapeutic whirlpool, cold plunge pool, Swiss shower and a rooftop adult-only pool with private cabanas.

There is a full-service salon, as well

services and the adult-only roof-top Joya Terrace Pool, where you can relax, sunbathe, swim and order from the spa menu for lunch or snacks.

For the ultimate luxurious pampering experience, you can rent one of the spa suites at Joya Spa. The Grand Palace Suite includes a luxurious King bed, two treatment tables, fireplace, flat screen TV, private restroom with shower and bath and a glass wall that opens, turning your private suite into an open-air cabana on the Joya Terrace Pool. The two Joya Suites include private terrace, outdoor shower and bath or hammered copper tub, treatment tables and day bed. The two Terrace suites have the same amenities as the Joya Suites, but they have 8-foot glass doors that open to the Joya Terrace Pool. You can rent any of the suites for either a half- or full-day.

Alvadora Spa at Royal Palms Resort and Spa

Royal Palms Resort and Spa is a small, intimate resort on Camelback Road, just a few minutes west of Old Town Scottsdale. The resort began as a private residence in 1929, built under towering palm trees in a citrus grove. This romantic establishment has winding paths, little romantic enclaves tucked away throughout the property, an award-winning restaurant and the luxurious Alvadora Spa.

Joya Spa at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia 4949 E. Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 480.627.3200 omnihotels.com/hotels/ scottsdale-montelucia

as services for acupuncture, acupressure and nutritional consulting.

Well & Being at Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

Alvadora Spa is small and intimate, with just eight Mediterraneanthemed treatment rooms. The newest spa experience at Alvadora is called SPA DĒHP (pronounced deep), which stands for Developed Expression of Human Potential. SPA DĒHP is an intensive session that unlocks emotions and unblocks the creative flow. It can be a separate session or part of your other treatments. You will find a variety of massages, body treatments and facials, as well as services at the salon for hair and nails.

7575 E. Princess Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 480.585.4848 (resort) 480.585.2732 (spa) scottsdaleprincess.com/well-andbeing-at-willow-stream

One of the most amazing treatments

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is Alvadora’s Signature Citrus Ritual.

One of the best parts of this treatment is that it is scheduled in one of the spa’s most inspiring spaces, Acqua Dolce—a rock-lined room with private patio. For the Citrus Ritual, you begin with a full body exfoliation on a heated stone table, while water gently cascades over your body from above. You have a chance to relax in the private garden tub and end with an orange blossom moisturizer.

Unlike some resorts, Alvadora Spa facilities are available to all guests as part of its resort fees. You can relax on a private patio by a roaring fire or enjoy the outdoor 8-foot waterfall showers. The fitness center offers a selection of equipment, daily yoga classes and you can schedule private classes. The pool, just steps from the spa, is open 24 hours.

Alvadora Spa at Royal Palms Resort and Spa 5200 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix 602.840.3610 (resort) 602.977.6400 (spa) royalpalmshotel.com/spa/alvadoraspa-phoenix

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Fashion

A True&Co. Bra That Fits

By Maralyn D. Hill

W

e are approached to review many products, some of great interest, others quite unusual, and others in which we feel our readers would not have interest. When True&Co. approached us to review its bras, I was personally quite interested. After all, half of our readers are women.

being larger than another and how much space is in between. I’ve not had a bra that has fit right since my lumpectomy in 2002 and breast realignment in 2003. I’m still lopsided and surprised that many women have the same problem.

I was skeptical that this test and its recommendations would really make a difference. I was wrong.

They corrected my sizing and recommended three styles they felt would best work and indeed they have. I’m sold.

Bras have come a long way during the past century. Howard Hughes was known for designing just the right one for the well-endowed Jane Russell. I’m sure he enjoyed the challenge and success.

True&Co. first launched in May 2012, with its online bra marketplace with more than 50 name brands. An online quiz was the first of its kind to gather data necessary to recommend the best fitting bras. Plus, you can always return them, with a return label provided.

So I was fascinated by the sizing quiz each person takes to determine her correct size.

It covers everything from the standard questions about one breast

October 2013 was a big date for True&Co., as it introduced its first line that was built from data accumulated; “She Walks In (Beauty + Light), becoming one of the most popular brands on the site.”

June 2014 set another milestone, as “Uniform” was launched, True&Co.’s collection of luxury undergarment basics. The company says, “This is the first line to reflect the body shape ideology of True Spectrum.”

Whereas True&Co. may not be for everyone, it certainly is ideal for me.

Photos courtesy of True&Co. trueandco.com

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Visit Hilton Hawaiian Village® Waikiki Beach Resort and discover

the top 10 things to do at Waikiki’s favorite oceanfront playground. www.HiltonHawaiianVillage.com 1-800-HILTONS • 808-949-4321

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Hilton is the proud partner of the series, Hawaii 5-0.

Dine at Tropics Bar & Grill and enjoy Hilton’s official Hawaii Five-0 cocktail.

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Hawaiian Cultural Activities.

Demonstrations of Hawaiian arts, crafts and culture, exclusive to Hilton Hawaiian Village, including hula and Tahitian lessons, ukulele, lei-making and more.

Friday Night Fireworks.

Enjoy the energy of the “Rockin’ Hawaiian Rainbow Revue” at 7:00pm pool side, or sit under the stars and enjoy the dramatic fireworks spectacular every Friday night at around 7:45pm.

The best pools and water slides in Waikiki.

Five unique resort pools in all.

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Our beautiful green lawns are the perfect place to start your mornings in Waikiki with daily morning exercise classes: Yoga, Aerobics or Tai Chi.

Explore the Waikiki coast on Hilton’s 54´ catamaran, “Spirit of Aloha,” from the Hilton dock in front of the resort. Enjoy snorkeling, sunset cocktails or Friday night fireworks & dinner.

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Learn how to surf or stand-up paddle surf with the experts where surfing was born. Lessons and rentals available at Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon.

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Fashion

Sea Bags

An Ideal Gift All Year Long S

By Maralyn D. Hill

everal years ago, I was fortunate to receive a Sea Bag as a gift, when covering Harvest on the Harbor in Portland, Maine. It was the nicest and most practical tote bag ever.

Every bag I saw was a little different, given they were made from recycled boat sails, so this provided the added benefit of being waterproof. Mine is still in active use, as I gave it to my niece. She makes many trips to the beach, so it seemed an appropriate gesture.

When we were talking about the ideal tote bag for Luxe Beat Magazine readers, I immediately thought of my Sea Bag and contacted the manufacturer.

Still located at the wharf on the waterfront in Portland, the company has prospered. They were founded in 1999, and were the first in the market to design and manufacture handmade tote bags and accessories from recycled sails. Sea Bags focuses on keeping production local, with green business practices and with a focus on involvement with the local community.

They have expanded their designs to include more than just handbags and totes. You can find wine bags, baby bags, bucket bags, courier bags and wristlets. There is no end to nautical themes, as anchors and whales are in abundance, and they offer a selection of more modern fabrics in a variety of patterns and solids. For those Apple enthusiasts, you can fit your iPad or Macbook with a fashionable Sea Bag case that will keep the elements at bay.

These bags are close to indestructible.

I’ve even used mine for my laptop, when I don’t want to carry my briefcase. Visiting the Sea Bags

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website is great, as you can bid on vintage bags, as well as view the latest styles to hit the market. Sea Bags also offer a “design your own bag” option. They are perfect for the summer season and are durable all year long.

Now that I have a new Sea Bag, I’m not giving it away. If I want someone to have one, I’ll go to the Sea Bags website and place an order for them. www. seabags.com. The standard Sea Bag sells for $195. If you’re looking for one of those gifts that will make an impact and be a long-standing conversation piece, Sea Bags is sure to please.

Social Shopping the new mall

By Sonja Hegman Andras

R

emember Aqua Netting your hair up to hit the mall with your best friends? The mall was the place to be if you were anybody 20+ years ago.

But in the 2010s, cruising the mall is sooooo last century. Since the vast majority of communication takes place online, it was only a matter of time before shopping followed suit. Thanks to Amazon, we can order anything our hearts desire without leaving the couch and our smartphone. Now, trips to the mall with your BFF have been replaced with online “shopping communities” where fashionistas the world over can dish on the latest trends (I hear faux fur vests are HUGE for fall).

Mobile apps are taking the fashion world by storm, and with that in mind, here are a few of the latest apps that embrace the idea of “social shopping.”

jackets that fit their personal style and tastes.” This recently launched social shopping community allows users to post their favorite items and browse awesome finds from other contributors. Users can shop top brands (like Nasty Gal and Nordstrom), share and comment on amazing discoveries, find merchant discounts ranging from 30-70 percent, and click to buy any item from the original seller. The app is available for iPhone and Android, but you can use an “old fashioned” browser on your computer. Content is contributed by you, your friends and fellow community members; professional staff curators who are paid to unearth the Bestie of the best; and hundreds of top brands and boutiques like Bebe,

clothes, hottest accessories and hippest products from vegan purple hair dye to $37,000 Rolex watches, meet Bestie. Bestie is part fashion finder service, part virtual mall, and part social network for shopaholics.

“We started posting products that our curators were finding interesting several months ago when our website was just a shell with no functionality, and suddenly we had 16,000 Facebook followers,” said Bestie co-founder Gary Lipovetsky.

“That showed us that people were hungry for a place to find unusual products from $24 crochet dresses to $2,000+ designer

Bestie

If you’re tired of slogging through dozens of websites and apps in a quest for the coolest

1

Bloomingdale’s, Etsy, FreePeople, Net-a-Porter, Shopbop and Victoria’s Secret.

GoodShop

Mobile shoppers looking for big savings at their favorite stores can turn to the Goodshop app, a new iOS app with the latest coupons and deals at more than 5,000 online stores. In addition to being a great way to save money, the Goodshop app adds some extra meaning, as a percentage of virtually every purchase is donated to the shopper’s favorite cause.

Fashion that it probably seems like a waste to buy brand new clothes when lightly used would suffice.

Enter Kidizen. Kidizen is a place for parents (grandparents and others) to buy and sell kidstuff. According to the company’s website, “It’s for the things that ought to be loved by many and deserve a long life. And it’s for folks who recognize the value, and downright awesomeness, of pre-loved things.” Owners Mary and Dori experienced the accumulation of stuff that came with raising kids. When they realized they were “always hunting for something our kids need when we already have more stuff than we can manage,” they saw it as an opportunity to change the non-stop cycle. In a letter on their website, they wrote, ”It’s increasingly difficult to spend less, but we still want the best for our kids. We want things for our children that express their unique style and spark their imaginations. A community of like-minded parents seems a logical place to look. And there’s a certain comfort in knowing another family will love and appreciate our things just as much as we did.”

of fashion trends and designer styles. It provides the user the opportunity to strut their stuff within a community of fashion’s most recognized faces, while browsing and shopping for favorite looks. The inspiration is endless as the app is chock full of the newest trends and must-have styles. Users can follow their friends, top fashion bloggers, celebrities, and models.

Plus, they can build their own lookbooks and share them with a community entirely devoted to fashion.

Styletag also tells you where to shop for the looks you love, along with suggested matching items. This is the fashion app that allows fashionistas to explore and purchase styles from their favorite places to shop – including Saks, Zara, Barneys, Gilt, H&M, Uniqlo, and Fab. Other app features include: FEATURED – Discover dynamic inspiration through high-quality fashion photos from fashion insiders around the globe.

EXPLORE – Search for specific dress and outfit trends in vogue now, along with timeless classics and essential basics recommended by the world’s savviest shoppers and style icons.

Shopography “The Goodshop app is a wonderful way for people to incorporate ‘doing good’ into their everyday lives, while shopping,” said Colin Morris, VP of Product at Goodshop. “We see it as a perfect win-win, where shoppers can purchase everything they need, save money with great deals, and make the world better too.” The Goodshop app provides shoppers with more than 200,000 coupons, deals, and promo codes at thousands of retailers like Amazon, Macy’s, Target, and Staples. Virtually every time they

Shopography puts you inside a shopping community that organically chooses only the best products selected by people you trust.

Shopography makes everyone a trend setter by letting users share their specific product knowledge with friends. DJs can tell their friends what headphones to buy. Avid readers can ask their network for book recommendations. This app can help you cut through the low-grade clutter you shouldn’t bother with.

shop, the app directs an average of 3 percent of their purchases to the shopper’s chosen cause, all at no extra cost to them. Users can choose which cause to support from a list of more than 110,000 schools and nonprofits in the US - everything from the biggest national organizations, like the ASPCA and Stand Up For Cancer, to smaller environmental agencies and local food banks or schools.

The app also lets users scan barcodes of items IRL (in real life) and post them to social media channels outside of the app like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Kidizen

This app is for the moms out there.

Children grow so incredibly fast

Styletag

Styletag brings together expert curated and crowd-sourced photos 79

SHOP – Go directly to purchase pages to easily and instantly shop for your favorite looks.

LOOKBOOK - Create lookbooks of fashion styles and trends you love.

Post and share your own style within the fashion community via the photo upload tool.

TOP PEOPLE – Follow and connect with a community of models, fashion icons, designers, and beauty experts from around the globe.

MY PROFILE – Create a profile within the fashion community that enables you to explore bold styles and build your own fashion identity.

SOCIAL SHARING – Share your outfits and styles seamlessly onto your Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter accounts.

Artist Karen Yee Captures The Essence of Her Subjects 80

ALL PHOTOS BY LEAH WALKER.

By Renee Phillips

Art

K

aren Yee lives in El Segundo, California with her husband and two daughters. She was born into an artistic environment and throughout her life her modes of creative expression have taken many different forms.

She is a prolific and versatile painter in the style of Contemporary Realism. She paints people in their indigenous apparel and natural environment with awe-inspiring accuracy and an air of mystery. Her range of subjects is impressive and includes those in the realms of Judaica, Asia, and Music. She has even created a series of Pirate paintings. In addition to her figurative paintings Karen Yee has added a delectable series of still life to her outstanding repertoire.

However, it is painting people that preoccupies the artist’s current creative imagination. What is so remarkable about her art is her masterful ability to capture the emotion, character and personality of her subjects. With technical prowess she depicts every detail and nuance of light, shadow, and texture.

Each subject is celebrated as a unique individual worthy of our attention and each series as a whole reveals a compelling story.

For example, her iconic painting Chinese Bride, from her “Asian Influenced Paintings” series, is an exquisite portrayal of a young lady on her wedding day. Her delicate features, modest pose, and the decorative details that adorn her wedding gown evoke the elements of the quintessential classic Chinese culture.

The impetus that propelled Karen to explore her long held desire to paint may surprise you. It occurred after her cataclysmic event dealing with and surviving cancer in 2003. She was motivated to communicate an important message through painting.

One example, her self-portrait painting “Fight Like A Girl”, is a poignant painting that won the First Place Cash Award in the Manhattan Arts International “Celebrate The Healing Power of Art” 2014 juried competition. The juror was Lilly Wei, leading New York based international curator and art critic for Art in America and ARTnews magazines, among others. In this competition Karen also won a Manhattan Arts International Featured Artist Award.

When asked about the painting “Fight Like A Girl” the artist

explains, “I was determined to battle the cancer and kick it to the curb. I wanted to portray that emotion in a self-portrait. Others have responded to the image positively, telling me it has inspired them in their fight too.”

Karen Yee has received many awards in juried exhibitions including the Chairman’s Choice Award in the 2014 American Salon of Fine Art exhibition and the NOAPS Online International Fall 2013 exhibition.

Her artwork has been featured in American Art Collector Magazine, and interviewed and featured in a blog for International Women’s Day on Redbubble.com.

I recently had the opportunity to ask Karen Yee a few questions about her art.

RP: Karen, when did you first become interested in art and why?

KY: I have always been interested in art. My mother painted as a hobby when I was young, and I remember being fascinated watching her, and wanting to try. I took an art class both in high school, and then again in college. But I balked at the limitations in instruction. I didn’t like being told what to create, wanting to be free of confinements to do it myself, and follow my own instincts.

personality show, and I think that comes through in the portrait.

Sometimes, the more elaborate the costume, the more they reveal about themselves.

RP: I’m glad you pursued your natural talent and instincts.

Who or what most influences your work?

KY: I have always been attracted to and admire traditional and representational artwork. Some of my favorite artists are Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Norman Rockwell, but there are really too many to name.

RP: Karen, are there any other contemporary artists who have inspired you?

KY: One artist that has had a huge impact on me and my artwork is my mentor and favorite living artist, Paul Mellender. I noticed his artwork years ago on MySpace, and was captivated. His artwork is so rich, full of life and bewitching. It draws the viewer in and holds them spellbound. I want to paint like that!

RP: Your art is museum quality and every series of yours opens a doorway into the essence, personality and inner spirit of your subjects. What current painting or art project are you working on?

KY: I am currently working on a “Masked” series. I really enjoy painting portraits of people in costume, and a mask adds a great sense of mystery and charm to the composition.

RP: Karen, your new painting Day of the Dead Tima is captivating.

Can you tell us about this painting?

KY: I really enjoyed painting Tima because even though it is a traditional Day of the Dead themed portrait, I think it has a contemporary edge to it. It also reflects the component of her Asian heritage, and her own unique individuality.

RP: What is it about painting people in costumes and masks that intrigues you?

KY: I like painting people in costume, and especially with a mask, because I have found that when a person covers themselves in a costume, they feel more free to let their true

RP: Your creative passion and connection to your subjects shine through your paintings. What is the greatest reward you receive from being an artist?

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KY: The greatest rewards I get from painting is the satisfaction in producing something I am proud of.

A while ago, I was unable to paint temporarily. When I resumed, I realized how much fulfillment I get just from the process. It is like therapy for me. I live truly in the moment, focusing only on what I am doing, and not thinking about anything else. This is truly a form of bliss. Of course, the positive responses and feedback I get from viewers of my artwork is also validating and rewarding for me.

I love it when a person views my art, and sees the same things I do.

It reminds me we all share the same world.

RP: You deserve every positive response you receive. Where can we view your art? What upcoming exhibition(s) do you have scheduled?

KY: I am participating in the upcoming “Women Painting Women” exhibition at the Principle Gallery in Charleston, SC. It is a national juried show where out of 743 international submissions 86 paintings by 73 artists will be displayed. The dates for the exhibit are September 5 through November 11, 2014.

To view more paintings by Karen Yee visit her website at www.karenyeefineart.com

A Place to Breathe

After The Quake The Art Of Rebuilding

By Linda Cordair

82

Art

T

oday, as I sit at my desk, I am surrounded by ghostly forms—sculpted figures enshrouded in protective plastic, their faces, arms, hands, and fingers visible but hazily veiled, as if floating just beneath a watery surface, their bodies suspended, souls asphyxiated. They can’t breathe. Neither can I, not yet.

their glazed eyes scanning, assessing, sizing us up. We stared them down in turn, shining our flashlights on them whenever they came too close. There was no law enforcement in sight and none could be expected anytime soon. A friend guarding a neighbor’s business declared loudly that looters would be shot on sight.

Through the dust in the air and the sporadic noise of power tools, I try to complete calls with artists, clients, structural engineers and contractors. Between emails and texts, I urge the drywallers on, rolling up my sleeves in frustration at times, grabbing a spatula to demonstrate how much more quickly holes and gouges in walls can be mended and filled—if one is sufficiently motivated.

I’m motivated. Each day that the gallery is closed is more income lost, more expense incurred.

What we found inside the gallery broke my heart. Sculptures were fallen, scattered and toppled everywhere, some of them in pieces.

An elegant hand, snapped off and missing a finger, lay in a corner beneath a tipped table. The bicep of a female nude looked as if someone had taken a baseball bat to it. Glass table tops and pedestals were broken; paintings clung to walls, precariously askew. Frames of those that had fallen were nicked, gouged. There was a gaping hole in a painted figure’s hip. These pieces are our children, the precious creations of our artists, the progeny they’ve labored so hard and diligently to bring into existence.

They entrust their work to us, and we consider ourselves more of an adoption agency. Our job being to find good and loving homes for the treasures passing through our hands.

And here they were, many injured, a few beyond repair, all in need of protection and care.

It’s been just three weeks since the earth beneath us rocked and shook, and then more violently, lifting and dropping, over and over again, leaving so much of what had been whole, in pieces. I’ll be happy if I never again experience the fear and heartbreak of that night, of being awakened as though in the middle of a car accident. The vehicle still careening, bouncing, and crunching through the darkness, glass breaking, combined with helplessness of not knowing if the space we were in would hold together, not knowing if we were moments from injury or death.

When the house finally came to rest, fortunately we were still intact, at least physically. It was 3:20 in the morning. Our border collie and the one cat we could find were okay. We tried to keep them out of the broken glass. I couldn’t find my shoes.

Neighbors were trapped in bedrooms, behind or beneath fallen bookcases.

An elderly couple a block from us had been thrown out of bed; surrounded by glass, without light, as they lay on the floor together, waiting either for dawn or for someone to come by.

A boy’s pelvis was crushed beneath bricks from a fallen chimney.

After helping neighbors, we rushed to the gallery. We knew it would be bad, but it was worse. Most of our display windows were broken out and the building’s exterior was cracked.

The art was exposed, but nothing had been stolen—yet. Within minutes of our arrival, the town’s meth-addled vultures were pedaling and strolling by, alone and in pairs,

ABOVE Reflection by Holly Crocker Garcia LEFT Unbound by Karl Jensen

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From the first moments that morning, neighbors were helping neighbors. Strangers jumped in to assist with moving exposed art further back into the gallery. Friends showed up almost immediately, despite the damage in their own homes, to help with cleaning up the glass. By dawn, a flatbed truck from a local lumber company was rolling slowly up the street, dispensing plywood free of charge to whomever needed it. A resident we’d never met before brought tools to help us board up. Another stranger brought in a generator for the express purpose of making coffee and charging cell phones. Neighbors brought tools, hugs and coffee.

We weren’t aware until later that morning that my brother in law, on the other side of the country, had set up a fund for donations (www. gofundme.com/dgzgro) towards the gallery’s rebuilding. By the end of the day, thousands of dollars had already poured in from family, friends, clients, and strangers. Our artists have donated paintings and sculpture to be sold or auctioned to help with expenses. Other friends helped move a truckload of the more

Decision Serge Marshennikov 20” x 17” Signed and numbered giclee print on canvas

Discover beautiful art, great fiction, a rewards club, layaway plans and much more.

Quent Cordair Fine Art The Finest Romantic Realism in Paintings and Sculpture Established 1996 • 1301 First Street, Napa, CA • 707.255.2242

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Join Club Cordair, a monthly membership program for acquiring art you love.

Art

Molly’s Swing by Quent Cordair BELOW Imagination by Dellorco

Awaiting the unveiling

vulnerable art out of the gallery and safely into storage.

through broken hearts; through despair. And now, it’s my turn.

As the rebuilding continues, too slowly, I glance occasionally to the sculptures still in the room here with me, the uninjured ones. Even as seen through their plastic veilings, I draw strength, motivation and resolve from them. They fuel me and inspire me in a way that nothing else can.

These trying weeks have helped me comprehend, more deeply than ever, why art is so important to so many, why so much assistance would come flooding in to help rebuild it. Our artists work so hard to create the most meaningful, uplifting and inspiring artworks they can. Many times over the years, I’ve listened to clients’ stories of how pieces they own have helped pull them through life’s difficulties, spiritual, emotional and material; through illnesses and deaths of loved ones; through lost jobs; through disappointments;

At this moment, I need art more than ever. These objects of beauty and contemplation give me so much, providing the immediate experience of the joyful and inspirational, the romantic and beautiful, the purposeful and peaceful, the happy and serene. Paintings and sculpture reflect and encapsulate all that we worked so hard to build, all that had existed before the quake. Today, they remind me anew, providing the vision of that stylized, beautiful, meaningful world, which through hard work and perseverance, we will rebuild once more.

experience of what is lovely and good; of what is important, in and of itself, for its own sake; of what, when broken, is worth rebuilding; of what, when lost, is worth seeking, finding, re-creating.

With art’s help, we are rebuilding— for the sake of the art, in the image of the art. These things around me, I love dearly. I will make a place for them again, a place to breathe. There will be a second coming, a rebirth, a new unveiling. I will make it so.

All images appearing in this article are the property of Quent Cordair Fine Art and the artists they represent. The images are protected

by U.S. Copyright Laws, and are not to be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission of Quent Cordair Fine Art, 1301 First Street, Napa, CA 94559. Copyright 2014 Quent Cordair Fine Art - All Rights Reserved.

This is what art is for, to help fuel, to show and remind us of what is important, what is worth pursuing, worth aiming for, worth waiting for, worth building towards again. Art provides that invaluable, distilled

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History, Art, Beauty and Fashion Come Alive in NYC Museums

By Renee Phillips

86

Art

T

hree compelling New York museum exhibitions reflect the course of history and share a common thread of beauty, fashion and glamour in different ways. The “Gilded Age” at the Museum of the City of New York provides a view of the 19th century lifestyle of the elite in New York, while the “Killer Heels” exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum encompasses decades of styles of high heel shoes. An exhibition of Cubist Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art would not have come to fruition without the 40 year collection of cosmetics mogul Leonard A. Lauder. We know that Cubism has had an influence on fashion throughout the decades.

portraits, and decorative objects, all created between the mid-1870s and the early 20th century. The Tiffany & Co. Foundation Gallery consists of elegant state-of-the-art display cases, herringbone wood flooring, decorative wallpaper, mirrored window shutters, draperies, as well as a historic chandelier and fireplace mantel from the Museum’s collections.

“Gilded New York” at the Museum of the City of New York

Visit the Museum of the City of New York’s website www.mcny.org

The Museum of the City of New York was founded in 1923 and has been responsible for celebrating New York City and educating the public about its distinctive history, heritage, and transformation.

Last year, the museum inaugurated its Tiffany & Co. Foundation Gallery with “Gilded New York”, an exhibition that explores the city’s visual culture at the end of the 19th century. This was an era of glamor in New York, when the city’s cultural institutions helped launch its global prominence and New York became the nation’s corporate headquarters.

The elite class displayed a massive amount of extravagance when it came to its fashions, architecture, and interior design.

“Gilded New York” presents some 100 works, including costumes, jewelry,

popular in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries), Salvador Dalí’s fanciful, inverted Shoe Hat of the late 1930s, many of the glamorous stilettos seen on today’s red carpets, and the memorable eight-inch-heel platform booties created by United Nude for Lady Gaga.

Both contemporary and historic footwear in “Killer Heels” have been borrowed from designers or culled from the renowned Brooklyn Museum costume collection housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto and Museo Ferragamo in Florence, Italy.

Throughout the ages, the highheeled shoe has gone through many transformations and interpretations of artistic expression for both designer and wearer. According to Lisa Small, the Brooklyn Museum’s curator of exhibitions and this exhibition “Killer Heels” strives to present shoes “from an aesthetic, design and material culture standpoint.”

“Gilded New York” is organized by Donald Albrecht, the City Museum’s Curator of Architecture and Design; Jeannine Falino, an independent curator; and Phyllis Magidson, the City Museum’s Curator of Costumes and Textiles. The exhibition runs through November 30, 2014.

“Killer Heels” at The Brooklyn Museum

Founded in 1895, the Brooklyn Museum is a massive, 560,000 square foot art institution. Its permanent collections include a wide range of objects -- from ancient Egyptian masterpieces to contemporary art -- representing almost every culture in the world.

Visit The Brooklyn Museum’s website www.brooklynmuseum.org

“Cubism: The Leonard A. Lauder Collection” at The Metropolitan Museum

“Killer Heels: The Art of the High Heeled Shoe” is a current exhibition through February 15, 2015. It explores the most provocative and coveted fashion accessory and its rich and varied history. Comprised of 160 elevated shoes in a wide range of styles, origins and eras, this exhibition is a feast for the eyes.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is an art mecca that attracts more than six million visitors each year.

Its history begins in 1866 in Paris, France, when a group of Americans agreed to create a “national institution and gallery of art” to bring art and art education to the American people. It is one of the world’s largest and finest art museums that hosts a collection comprised of more than two million works of art.

Included in this exhibition are the high platform chopines (a style of women’s platform shoe that was 87

Over the past 40 years, Leonard A. Lauder, the cosmetics mogul and philanthropist, has selectively acquired masterpieces and seminal works to create the most important collection of Cubist Art that has existed in private hands. This unsurpassed collection is now a promised gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and will be shown in “Cubism: The Leonard A. Lauder Collection”, from October 20, 2014 – February 16, 2015.

Included in this unprecedented exhibition are 79 paintings, collages, drawings, and sculpture by the four preeminent Cubist artists: Georges Braque (French, 1882– 1963), Juan Gris (Spanish, 1887– 1927), Fernand Léger (French, 1881–1955), and Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973).

Cubism is recognized as the most influential art movement of the early twentieth century and remains a major source of inspiration for many artists today. Fundamental traits of Cubist art -- with its distortions, dimensions, angles and geometric shapes -- were also translated into fashion from 1908 into the early 1920s. We can still see its influence on designers today.

Simply consider Prada’s angular shoes and Lagerfeld’s cubist shapes.

In his book, “Cubism and Fashion,” Richard Martin states, “In the search for a description of or analysis for fashion’s radical transformation, it becomes clear that Cubism possesses both the aesthetic proximity and the worldly diffusion to be not only metaphor but also cause.”

Visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s website www.metmuseum.org

Techie Trek To Palo Alto

By Dena Roche

Tacolicious is a new hot spot in Palo Alto

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ilicon Valley is the hub for business on the West Coast, so it’s no surprise that travel to the area is booming. While much business travel is pretty mundane, it doesn’t have to be. When you want to add a little pizzazz to your trip, Palo Alto is the place to do it.

In the heart of the action, Palo Alto is the ideal hub, whether your business takes you to LinkedIn, Google, Facebook or the thousands of tech companies that dot the San Francisco hills.

While most business travelers are members of a car rental company’s frequent renter program, and that provides some perks, no rental car experience I’ve had beats the Silvercar experience. When I landed in SFO, my car was pulled into the rental car bay area, and a gentleman greeted me, loaded my luggage and explained the features of the Audi A4. All the standard rental paperwork is done via app and all that is left to do on check out is for me to scan the QR code off the car with my phone and I’m off for Palo Alto.

While there are many standard hotel chains dotting the Silicon Valley landscape, kick it up a notch at the Westin Palo Alto. Smaller than many Westins I’ve stayed at, I love the courtyard outside my room and the fact that I can enjoy breakfast in bed or in the courtyard before I have to head to meetings. The hotel has a fitness center and for business travelers like myself who abhor checking luggage, the workout clothes lending program means less stuff I have to pack and I still get in my daily workout.

Palo Alto is the home to many tech businesses and of course, Stanford University. This means that the downtown area hums with activity and there is no dearth of interesting restaurants to choose to hit for happy hour or dinner.

local following. The noise was nearly deafening when I walked in, but at the table it quieted down.

Happily, its high energy buzz wasn’t lost. I’ll admit that Mexican food is not my favorite ethnic eat, but the grilled squid Veracruz had me singing a different tune. This flavorful, spicy dish with just a bit of kick showed me that Mexican doesn’t have to mean “smothered in yellow cheese”.

If you’re looking to wine and dine associates, MacArthur offers an elegant backdrop for traditional American cuisine. Alternatively, try something different with the new INDO Restaurant & Lounge, which features great ambiance paired with flavorful Asian dishes.

Hands down, my favorite attraction in Palo Alto is the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford. On Thursdays, this free museum stays open until 8 p.m., allowing professionals to bask in an impressive collection of art, including the Rodin Sculpture Garden. The Rodin collection is the second largest grouping of the sculptor’s work outside of Paris.

Getting fit on the Dish

After work, if you don’t want to hit the Westin gym, get out in the beautiful Bay weather and do the hike that locals do, The Dish. For fitness freaks, this hike should really be called a walk, because it is an easy four-mile paved loop. It does afford views of Palo Alto and the foothills, and you can see the telescope that used to signal the NASA Voyager Program.

When you have to travel for business, why not enjoy what free time you have with a great hotel, great eats and great activities?

Palo Alto is the place to be for techie travelers.

Palo Alto in style with Silvercar’s Audi A4

One of the best happy hours in the area is Nola. This eclectic eatery has multiple bars, each with its own personality, and all fitting into the New Orleans food and flair the restaurant is known for.

I believe that travel is never the time for chain restaurants, so I head for one of the newer hotspots, Tacolicious. This Mexican outlet has been open a bit over a year, and it’s already gained quite a 89

Kathy Gruver PhD.

Multi-Faceted Multi-Talented

By Maralyn D. Hill and Sherrie Wilkolaski

D

r. Kathy Gruver is one of the people you don’t forget, once you’ve met her. She is high-energy, fun to be around and you’ll walk away from a conversation with her feeling a little more empowered. Maralyn and I have known Kathy for years and didn’t realize that until a few years ago. Maralyn had met her through her husband and fellow writer, Michael Cervin, and I had met her as an author and was helping to market her books. At some point, Maralyn and I looked at each other and said, “You mean Kathy Gruver?” We just knew she would make a wonderful addition to our team of contributors here at Luxe Beat Magazine.

She started studying massage and natural health over two decades ago.

Since then, she has built up an award-winning massage and natural health practice, starred in her own television series, written three books, produced a DVD, lectured all over the country, appeared on Lifetime Television’s “The Balancing Act” and has pursued degrees in higher education. She has written dozens of health and wellness articles, appeared on 150+ radio and TV shows and her first health book, “The Alternative Medicine Cabinet”, was selected as a winner of the Beverly Hills Book Awards and a finalist for the IndyExcellence Awards. Her latest, “Conquer your Stress with Mind/Body Techniques”, has won the Beverly Hills Book Awards, The IndieExcellence Awards and was a finalist for the USA Best Book Awards.

She has been featured as an expert

I studied further in Los Angeles, but it wasn’t until I moved to Santa Barbara and gave up my acting career that I truly found my calling in alternative medicine.

in numerous publications, including Glamour, Time, Wall Street Journal, CNN, WebMD, Prevention, Men’s Health, Huffington Post, Yahoo.com, Ladies Home Journal, Massage and Bodyworks Magazine and Massage Magazine. Kathy has written dozens of health and wellness articles and contributing posts. She has appeared as a guest expert on over 200 radio and TV shows, including NPR, SkyNews London, CBS Radio and Lifetime Television, and has delivered over 100 educational lectures around the country. For fun and stress relief, she does flying trapeze and hip hop dance.

How does regular exposure to massage therapy help with someone’s overall health?

Massage was not quite enough and I started studying more and more alternative medicine. I earned my Masters and PhD and even studied mind-body medicine at the Benson Henry Institute for mind-body medicine at Harvard. I’m an advocate because of its usefulness. It gives control back to people and offers them options for their health and wellness. There is not just one way to do anything and we are so dependent on Western medicine I would like people to know they have choices.

She earned her PhD in Natural Health and studied further at Harvard Medical School and the National Institutes of Health. She teaches dozens of continuing education hours every year and acts as an expert witness for massage negligence and ethics cases.

What is the most common reason that your clients come to you for a massage or consultation?

Massage therapy is one of the greatest modalities there is and one of the most widely accepted. It helps with muscle tension, headaches, pain (both acute and chronic), hip pain, foot pain, back and neck issues, wrist pain and just about anything you can think of. It also relaxes the entire system, brings circulation to the area, it helps cleanse the body through moving the lymph, and releases feel-good hormones in the brain. Massage therapy activates the relaxation response, which stops the fight or flight response to stress.

What inspired you to study and become an advocate for natural health?

My journey into natural health was a very accidental one. I started doing massage when I was a little kid.

I would sit behind my dad on my car trips and rub his neck so he did not get headaches. My mom got sick when I was nine and died when I was about 18. And though that certainly influences how I practice, it was not what propelled me into this career.

I apprenticed with a woman when I was in college and learned to do massage and bodywork and work with herbs and homeopathics. It was at that point I realized I did have a passion for natural health.

Most people come to me for massage because they are in pain of one sort 90

or another. Consultations are a little more in depth and cover all aspects of health. I do medical massage, deep tissue and trigger point, so people typically do not come to me to just “relax”. They come to have work done. I work hard to get to the root of the problem and make sure I’m helping the source of their pain or discomfort. I have had a lot of referrals from chiropractors and orthopedic surgeons.

Are there a couple of quick health tips you can give to our readers?

The greatest thing to keep in your alternative medicine cabinet are herbs and homeopathics that work for you. Nux vomica is great for

Featured Contributor goes. High fructose corn syrup, artificial sweetener, genetically modified foods are really wreaking havoc on our health. I also believe so many of these fake foods are contributing to our epidemic of obesity and diabetes. Soda is one of the worst things you could be putting in your body, both diet and regular are terrible for us. You can see an almost immediate boost in health when you cut out those foods.

You’re the author of several books, what is your writing process?

Books I have written thus far are conglomerates of things I had already written. The Alternative Medicine Cabinet, my first book, is a collection of articles, papers and projects that I have done over the years. My second two books, Body Mind Therapies for the Bodyworker and Conquer Your Stress with Mind-Body Techniques, were based heavily on my dissertation when I did my PhD. I have been lucky to this point that I already have so much information in place, so they were pretty easy to convert into full books. I’m also thrilled that 2 of my books have won multiple awards.

One thing that all my books do have in common is the elaborate index.

I want to make it incredibly simple for people to find the information that they need in my books.

Do you have any new titles on the horizon?

I do. I’m actually working on my fourth book. I am finishing up a hypnotherapy program and as soon as that is done, the new book will be in full swing. It is more a story of my personal journey as a healer and the different techniques that I’ve incorporated throughout my life to help myself and others heal. I’m very excited about it.

overindulgence in everything from food and booze to too much fun and excitement. I like echinacea and goldenseal if I’m getting sick.

There’s a lovely product called Wellness Formula, which is a vitamin combination for immune boosting.

Arnica gel is for bruises and bumps and homeopathic Arnica for the same thing. I love Salon Pas patches for muscle tension and pain.

When someone is beginning to put together their own alternative medicine cabinet, what would you recommend for them always to keep in stock?

There is a great supplement called BF&C, which is wonderful for

You do a lot of traveling as a speaker and for your work, when you get the chance to pick your own travel destination, what is your favorite getaway?

There are so many places I have visited, but I would like to get back to, for example, England. But for right now, my favorite getaway is someplace new that I’ve not been before. I just recently went to New Orleans, which was high on my list for many years. If I have to pick a place to go for fun, I would probably have to do Greece and Rome next.

structural issues. And you can’t beat Oscillococcinum for cold and flu.

Yes, the very first thing is to know your body. We can describe what is going wrong in our cars, but oftentimes can’t pinpoint the issues in our own body. If we take a minute to see how we feel when we are healthy, we will then be able to identify when something is wrong.

Then, learn to communicate that to your practitioners, whether someone like myself or your Western medical physician. Identify your stressors and do your best to decrease them.

Stress response is going to weigh heavily on every aspect of our lives.

The other thing is try to cut out anything artificial as far as your diet

In your current career path, is there a moment that was more exciting than any other?

One of the most exciting moments for me was being featured on a 91

billboard in Times Square in New York City. When I found out I got selected, I was absolutely over the moon. I did not get to travel there to see it, but I have a fabulous photo.

I’ve been lucky in that I’ve had a lot of fabulous opportunities. I was featured in an article in Glamour Magazine Spanish. And being on the set of my TV series was mind blowing. Though truly nothing beats day-to-day interaction with people who are in pain that I am able to help. When my cancer patient grabbed my hand and said he couldn’t have made it this far without me, how can I not be moved by that and honored?

How do you enjoy spending your free time?

Free time, right, I remember having some of that. I don’t get much free time and that is of my own making.

There are so many things I want to do and accomplish, I just keep going and going and going. I love spending time with my husband; we are very into food and wine and that’s incredibly important to me. The other thing I make time for is to dance four or five days a week. I have an incredible hip-hop teacher who is amazing. And I do flying trapeze two or three times a month down in Santa Monica. That has become something I’m quite passionate about and really enjoy doing. I love spending time at the Magic Castle, enjoying magic and getting dressed up. And there’s nothing like spending time with the kitties.

What are three necessities you won’t travel without?

I always take my pillow, a golf ball and lots of business cards. The pillow is self-explanatory. The golf ball might confuse you a bit, I use that as a self-massage tool. I can roll my feet on it or put it under that knot in my back that aches. As far as the business cards go, I feel like when you’re running your own business, you always have to be on and present and “at work”. I actually met a woman at the Van Halen concert for whom I ended up doing some speaking. You never know when the opportunity to help will pop up.

What does Luxe Beat Magazine mean to you?

It’s really exciting to be on the beginning stages of such a fabulous magazine, one that regards quality and style above all else. I am happy to be a part of it and keep up the good work.

To learn more about Kathy, go to www.kathygruver.com.

Paranormal Thriller Author Making Movie Magic

By Sherrie Wilkolaski

T

he Salem witch trials has always been of interest to me since I was in elementary school. We made our weekly trip to the school library and were allowed to check out one book a week. My personal struggle was selecting the next book in the Nancy Drew series or to grab another book on the history of Salem. Our library was small and I ended up reading the same books over and over again, never tiring of the stories and always wanting more.

As an adult, I’m still fascinated with the history of Salem. In December 2011, I was launching my book publishing house, Pressque Publishing, with my business partner, Ellie Maas Davis. She brought me a manuscript that I knew was just the right headliner to kick-off our catalog. The story was a modern day twist on the Salem witch trials, written by first time author, Jack Heath, titled Salem VI: Rebecca’s Rising (First of a trilogy). By day, Jack was a successful radio talk show host of NH Today and former TV news station manager and reporter. What made his story so different from everything else out there about the witch trials was the question he asked, “Who were the real witches?”

Jack Heath is more than just an amazing storyteller. He is also a direct descendant of Rebecca Nurse, who was tried and executed for practicing witchcraft in Salem, MA, on July 19, 1692. Additionally, he has a bad bloodline coursing through his veins because he is related to one of the Salem witch trials accusers, Ann R. Putnam. All of this adds to the mystique behind the book trilogy.

With Halloween quickly approaching, I thought it would be fitting to introduce Jack Heath to our audience. He grew up in in Swampscott, MA, a suburb a few minutes just outside of Salem, MA. He is the former News Director and Vice President of WMUR-TV in New Hampshire, and a former TV reporter for WCVB-TV in Boston and WABI-TV in Maine. Jack has a unique and varied background in news media and business. In 2000, Jack also founded Biznews24, now Pinpoint Global Communications, a software-based media company in New Hampshire, which provides sales training management systems to the financial services and insurance industries.

When he is not running his media consulting company, he is marketing and promoting the book series.

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One of the things Jack and I have both been passionate about has been to get this book trilogy adapted for the silver screen. Last October, we got our wish. Michael DeRoker with Wonderland Pictures, Inc.. approached us and purchased film rights. Now, the first film is on its way to production. It really is a dream come true and we’re enjoying every minute of the process. We’re currently in the process of kicking off a Halloween campaign on Kickstarter to help increase our marketing budget and help support the production budget. With a higher budget, some A-List actors can join the cast.

Here is my brief interview with Jack Heath: How did Salem VI: Rebecca’s Rising, come to life?

Growing up, I always had in my mind a story about the Salem witch trials, I just wasn’t sure what angle to write from. Ever since I was a child, I heard from my grandfather Heath stories about old Salem and Rebecca Nurse whom we were related to.

I think he liked to scare me a bit about the Puritanical past of Salem and how rigid society was. Then a few years ago, when I was on vacation in No. Myrtle Beach, SC, with my family, the idea for Salem VI literally popped into my head when I asked myself the question, “What if the Judges in the Salem witch trials were the real witches and what if they had formed a pact with Satan and fabricated the whole thing to frame God’s innocent children and offer them as sacrifices to the devil, their new God?” From there, the story came to life in my head. Then I asked, “What if the witch trials never ended and are still going on underground 320 years later?”

What can you tell our readers about Chain of Souls, the second book in the Salem Witch Trilogy?

Chain of Souls carries on directly from the end of the first book. John Andrews continues to wrestle with

new forces changing his being and world while he tries to battle the coven and evil forces. It is a struggle and Chain of Souls continues unraveling the history of Salem. In the plot, we have our twists along the way. As in the first book, we like action and suspense being the underlying mood, along with a lot that starts to take us more international out beyond Salem. Chain of Souls has more fun with Salem’s history, and people will like a new version of Hawthorne’s House of Seven Gables, where more evil lies underneath than anyone ever suspected.

What about the final book in the trilogy?

The third book in the series has already been written and we know how it all winds up in the end. It’s with our editorial team, now getting the final touches. I can tell you this much, Book 3 takes us on a global chase which ties together broader good vs. evil plots and characters.

But all tied back to the late 1600s and why evil took root in Salem.

Readers will be amazed when they see that evil has roots and havens elsewhere and still does. You will have to wait until the release of the film for this book to hit the bookshelves.

markets, I lost time and focus to write a story about some of the homicide cases I covered as a reporter. Then a few years ago, when I thought of the plot for this book, I just started to write like I was possessed in a good way. The story just came out faster than I could hit the computer keys. My wife Patty reminded me recently that I have a box in the basement of stories I stared to write but never finished. This story just ripped through my mind and formed in my head more than others.

What book is sitting on your bedside table?

I have several I am in the yearly process of reading. Books on bedside table now are; The Bancroft Strategy by Robert Ludlum, American Assassin by Vince Flynn, The Five People you Meet in Heaven

by Mitch Alboon, Bobby Orr by Stan Fischler from 1970, Andre Agassi’s autobiography Open, and The Race

by Richard North Patterson. Maybe this assortment says a lot about me.

I am a little focus challenged, as they say.

Who influences you as an author?

Ironically, I liked Nathaniel Hawthorne’s work and his love for Salem, Massachusetts and its history, which I share from growing up in the next town. I also loved F. Scott Fitzgerald growing up and the Great Gatsby. More recently, I like a bunch of suspense writers who write in the Robert Ludlum fashion of story-telling and character development.

What is your favorite book series?

Robert Ludlum, for sure. I just love Jason Bourne before his story was popularized by the movies. I like it when a character people can somehow relate to has his life blown up and just tries to hang on.

When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?

Marketing the book series and the upcoming film is always top on my list. There is something so

Rebecca’s Re venge Cooki es

Do you believe in ghosts?

I actually do, especially when someone dies a violent death or in a house where their spirit never was able to go free. I don’t believe these ghosts or spirits are necessarily bad or a threat, but I believe there is a very thin line between this physical life as we know it and a spiritual journey that awaits us all. In fact, Rebecca Nurse was alive in my head long before I wrote this book.

1 cup butte r, softened ⅔ cup white sugar ⅔ cup brown sugar ¾ cup unswe etened coco a 2 ¼ cup all p urpose flour 2tsp vanilla extract ½tsp salt 1tsp baking soda 2 eggs 12oz white chocolate ch ips 1 cup dried cherries Preheat ove n to 350 deg rees. Cream sugars. Add butter with eggs, one at both a time. Stir together flo i n vanilla extra ur, cocoa, sa ct. Sift lt and bakin mixture, a l g s oda. Add to ittle at a tim butter e u n t il fully incor the white ch porated. Fol ocolate chip d in s and dried rounded tea cherries. Dr spoonfuls o op by nto un-grea 8-10mins. L sed cookie s et rest on c heet. Bake ookie sheet f o r 5mins befor to wire rack e moving to cool comp letely.

What drives you to write?

It’s funny, I wanted to write a novel almost 20 years ago during my first TV reporting job in Maine.

I was covering a few really strange murders in rural areas that impressed me in how bizarre they were. Then, once my news career started to grow to larger

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Literature invigorating about books and the movie, and I really enjoy getting out there and talking with new readers.

When I step away from all of this, you can probably find me out on a walk. I cannot stand to be inside on a nice, sunny day watching TV. I need to be out doing something, walking, golfing or hiking.

How does your radio career play into your routine?

Well, this is my day job. I really enjoy doing my daily three-hour radio show. A lot of people ask me if having my own live, radio show every day is hard? It is actually the easiest thing I do. It is harder for me to write than do my show. I just love the interaction with listeners and callers. After almost 18 years in TV news, I like radio even more than I ever imagined. There is this close bond with talk show listeners that is two-way. TV is one direction. On TV,

you broadcast, an anchor talks and someone receives the show. With radio, like writing, you say or express yourself, and someone connects with you and what you are saying more closely than most mediums.

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Fill highball glass with i ce. Add Cap Spiced Rum. tain Morgan Add Apple C ’s ider. Add Ap ple Slice for Garnish. Sti r. Enjoy.

Who is your favorite Salem VI character?

In writing the book initially, it was Abigail. I got a real sense of her and what made her tick. But Rebecca was really a driving force, and I like how she rises and John really got a sense of this too. I like how when she gets really pissed off, you can feel her rise within John Andrews to get him to do what she wants him to do.

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of so many readers who enjoy stories he has to tell. Who knows what he’ll be doing next, once the film is released (holidays 2015)? If you are interested in learning more about Jack Heath and his work, please go to www. jackheathradio.com or

Jack Heath is a one-of-a-kind guy who just keeps making big things happen. His modern-day take on the Salem witch trials has changed my life on so many levels, and the lives

OF FRANCIN

E BOECHER.

www.salemwitchtrilogy.com.

The Salem VI series is published by Pressque Publishing and co-authored with John Thompson.

Book Inspires Jazz Musician to Write A Musical Score

By Sherrie Wilkolaski and Andrew Andron

Salem VI: Rebecca’s Rising, the book by Jack Heath and John Thompson, has been an inspiration to many artists. The first musician to write a piece of music after reading the book was Grammy award winning artist Sean Pallitroni. His music has been the “theme song” for the book series since the spring of 2013, when he released a YouTube video playing his piece, while a copy of the book rests on his piano.

Next, the book enthused film producer Michael DeRoker of Wonderland Pictures, Inc. to write the screenplay. Now, this inspired artist is on his way to making the film with plans to release late 2015.

worships Satan. Fueled by the need to understand whether his wife’s death was really an accident or something far more sinister, Andrews, along with his beautiful assistant editor, risk everything to discover a truth so horrifying it threatens to destroy everything and everyone he knows and loves.

Here are the musical tracks written and produced by Andrew Andron.

Final remastering was done by Richie Cannata.

several pieces of music. It’s the start of what could become the musical score for the film. If you’ve read the books and then listened to the music, you feel the connection.

He has captured the essence of the story in music.

We’ll be hearing from Andrew in a future issue. But for now, let me give you a sneak preview of what he has composed for the upcoming film title, Chain of Souls, based on the book Salem VI: Rebecca’s Rising. I’ve included Andrew’s descriptions of each of the songs along with an audio clip.

Things Remembered This piece was composed being mindful of John Andrews’ unfortunate past and the tremendous grief he experienced, especially towards the beginning of the novel. It was written to accompany his thought process while he attempts to connect his past to his present.

Salem Visited The unsettling melodic structure of this piece was inspired by the presence of the ghost of Rebecca Nurse and her many unexpected encounters with John Andrews. The trill at the beginning of each phrase is intended to provide an eerie musical complement to the highly detailed reappearances of Rebecca Nurse.

Discovery Because so much of John’s past was conveyed to the reader in the form of a flashback, it became a recurring element in telling the story of Rebecca’s Rising. The recurring harmonic

To get you in the mood, here is the book synopsis: Having stepped off the fast track of primetime network television news, John Andrews has chosen a quieter life as editor of Salem News, a small paper in a quiet New England town.

Life is perfect until Andrews’ wife is killed in a tragic accident. After several years of trying to numb the pain with alcohol, Andrews is visited by the spirit of a long dead ancestor who opens a door to a shocking family history.

While I was working on an upcoming story about jazz pianist, Andrew Andron, I happened to give him a copy of the first two books in the series as a thank you for his time.

He dove right into the books and before I knew it, he had written

After he experiences a surreal glimpse into the past, Andrews must confront the question of whether he is losing his mind or whether for several hundred years his ancestors have been engaged in a secret battle with a coven that

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pattern central to this piece serves a similar musical purpose.

Visions from the Past The many pauses in this piece illustrate the uncertainty that can be sensed by the reader in anticipation of what is yet to come in the life of John Andrews, and the changes that he experiences as he becomes increasingly “aware” of the presence of occultism in Salem.

Rising This piece was inspired by the paranormal aspects of the novel, and places great emphasis on points of both high and low intensity, through dynamic contrast. It was envisioned to accompany scenes that took place at the cemetery, beneath the Putnam mausoleum, and in the underground network of tunnels spanning Salem.

To learn more about Andrew Andron, go to www.andrewandron. com, or to learn more about the movie, Chain of Souls, go to www. salemwitchtrilogy.com.

Whatever A Happened To The Metric System? How America Kept Its Feet

(BLOOMSBURY, 2014, 310 PAGES, HARD-COVER WITH INSET OF COLOUR AND BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS)

QUICK: WHERE WERE YOU THE DAY THE METRIC SYSTEM DIED IN AMERICA?

ctually, it’s a trick (and tricky) question. For one thing, despite what the gas-station attendant pumping your gas in gallons would tell you, the metric system is very much alive in The U.S.A. Your medicine comes in metric doses (no one, on a long trans-Atlantic flight, asks for 1/18th of an ounce of Xanax), as does cocaine (in kilos), and soda (remember those famous 1970s “2-litre Pepsi ads”, where the kid knocks the bottle off the table in super slow-motion and the family is horrified—until the bottle doesn’t break! It bounces!) And if you’ve watched the Olympics or the World Cup (in Russia and Brazil, respectively), all of those sprints are measured in metric.

But then, we go about buying our pound of butter, gallon of milk, and sponsoring the neighbourhood kids in a “two-mile-Fun-Run” to cure cancer, reverting to our own weird Americanonly system of measurements.

John Bemelmans Marciano, who sat down with us to talk about his latest book in his Red Hook, Brooklyn home, has written what must be considered the definitive (and eminently readable) book on the metric system: Whatever Happened To The Metric System? How America Kept Its Feet.

“Actually, I wanted to do a full-on history of measurement, going back to the 1600s”, Marciano noted.

However, like all authors who must work with a heavy-handed editor, his book begins in the late 18thcentury, with a triad of Americans in Paris: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and the bon vivant of the Parisian salons, Benjamin Franklin.

Turns out that the Metric System is (or was) a lot more American than most of us ever gave it credit for.

It was that renaissance man— architect, president, vice-president, secretary of state, University of Virginia Founder, and author— Thomas Jefferson who, per Marciano, really got the Metric System rolling, by (1) getting out of America and over to our newest ally, France (who hated Great Britain at least as much as we did), where a fetish to measure everything from the circumference of the earth to systemizing weights and distance

Kevin DiCamillo

by John Bemelmans Marciano

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Literature was born the same year I was (and, for that matter, Luxe Beat Magazine Editor-in-Chief Sherrie Wilkolaski), 1970. This was the beginning of “The Decade of Nightmares” (to use Philip Jenkins’ title) and at the same time, “It Seemed Like Nothing Happened” (Peter N. Carroll’s title), and whatever else was going on (Watergate, the end of the Vietnam War, the hostage situation in Iran, Three Mile-Island), the Metric System was going to happen here, dammit! As President Gerald Ford famously boasted, “America is miles ahead when it comes to the metric system!” Yogi Berra could not have said it better himself.

Part of the charm of this book is Marciano’s balanced but not boring approach. He’s lived in France, Italy and Canada (all metric countries), and was raised on a farm in New Jersey (which is a foreign land, too, but not metric), so he has no proverbial, clichéd axe to grind. And in place of a lot of boring theories, he brings to life the men (and a few women) who fought over what system would eventually triumph.

In the fever-pitch of

However, like many metoric rises and overnight successes, whether they be the Cosmos or the Metric System, most go into a shooting-star fall.

In the case of the Metric System, President Reagan, to prove he wasn’t afraid to take axe to the Budget when it came to fat, decided to cut the U.S. Metric Association out of the government. Ironically, the USMA still exists—and is even growing— as a non-governmental agency. And once this was done, a lot of people started wondering aloud why, exactly, we needed two forms of measurement, especially if Uncle Sam wasn’t going to MAKE us do it.

But Marciano does a better job of summing this up, “I could never feel Celsius”. La mot juste. In addition to epiphanies like this, the book produces a simply superb section of colour-plates and black-and-white photos, all of which are art-gallery quality. Further, the book, once you get used to its pace, really reads.

After all, you start to wonder, “How on earth are we going to get from 1786 to 2014 in 300 pages?”

Marciano does a masterful job.

This isn’t Marciano’s first time at the dance, far from it. He had success with two books on word origins, Anonyponymous and Toponymity, and prior to that, gave his grandfather’s (Ludwig Bemelmans) Madeline a whole new lease on life with Madeline and the Cats of Rome, Madeline Says Merci, Madeline at the Zoo, Madeline and an Old House in Paris, Madeline in America, and Madeline’s Tea-Party, all of which he illustrated as well.

However, if you are waiting for Madeline And The Metric System— don’t hold your breath; “There will be no more Madeline books”, Marciano says.

and coinage was all the rage, and (2) coming up with a decimal system we still use today: our dollar currency (after all, our dimes, dollars, etc. are based on tens—nickels and quarters not withstanding).

IMAGES COURTESY OF BLOOMSBURY

those 1970s salad-days, when the Schoolhouse Rock Saturday morning videos featured how “cool” the metric system was, one could have believed that we were going metric.

After all, the U.S. had not only just adopted soccer—another completely foreign concept-- but in creation of the New York Cosmos, featuring Pele, Carlos Alberto and Giorgo Chiellini, became “Cosmo-politan”.

And soccer was (and is) measured metrically.

Marciano says that the book took him “About four years to research and write” and I believe him; for what the book mercifully lacks in foot- or end-notes, there’s no question that Marciano has done his (and our) homework on The Measuring System That Almost Was.

Whatever Happened To The Metric System? is a revelation on a number of levels—perhaps most remarkably, it makes learning not only about the metric system itself, but crazy history behind it fascinating reading.

And it’s a personal tale, too.

Marciano, who is sorely stricken with tall, dark and handsome European good looks, and American fitness,

2

Book Review

Unravelling WWI’s Start: The Sleepwalkers

By Christopher Clark

by Norman Hill

T

his book covers in minute, but always interesting, details the events of June through early August, 1914 in Europe. The Sleepwalkers shows how World War I started, but also points out several cases where more resolute actions by leaders might have averted war.

Several interesting arguments are made from Clark’s voluminous documentation not seen before: Leaders of Germany and Russia, Kaiser Wilhelm and Tsar Nicholas (first and second cousins, respectively of King George V of England), are not portrayed as absolute rulers who alone made the decisions for war. They held extensive power, no doubt, but were curtailed to a considerable extent along the way by both civil and military advisors.

Documents show Serb behavior in lands they had just acquired through extended war with Turkey. Even against other Slavs, such as Muslim Slavs, they committed the same kind of atrocities that led to world condemnation in the 90s. Serbian officials, if not directly behind the Archduke’s assassination, had close knowledge and contacts with the murdering fanatics.

The Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination sparked the conflicts, is not seen as merely heir to a corrupt Hapsburg dynasty.

Instead, he is shown as a liberal, who had intentions of granting autonomy to at least the southern Slavs in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Instead of a dual monarchy of Austria and Hungary, there might have been a third division, with a capital on a par with Vienna and Budapest. This intent is what doomed him to death at the hands of Serbian fanatics. They wanted a basis so dissatisfied Slavs could work to overthrow Austrian domination and come under the “freedom” of Serbian control.

One apparently minor flaw exists in Clark’s history. The Tsar’s mother was the niece of Queen Victoria, which meant his second cousin relationship with the Kaiser and English King. Clark doesn’t deny this relationship, but seems to overlook it. Even so, this is trivial compared to Clark’s insights.

Serbia, in World War I accounts, is often pictured as a tiny, harmless nation that was bullied by a giant Austria-Hungary war machine.

Despite the eventual wartime alliance between Great Britain and 98

Russia, the former had deep mistrust of Russian designs against the Kingdom of Persia and much territory of China.

Germany under Kaiser Wilhelm is generally assigned ultimate blame for World War I. The Versailles Treaty in 1919 emphasized this.

Clark, to be fair, doesn’t sugarcoat Germany’s blatant violation of Belgian sovereignty in transporting troops in 1914 to attack France.

But he makes convincing arguments for broad scale blame, assignable in significant degrees among Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Serbia and even Italy.

All in all, Clark’s work is a most valuable addition in providing understanding of the great World War I bloodbath and conflict.

Book Review

America: Imagine A World Without Her

By Dinesh D’Souza

By Norman Hill

I

opposition to “Conservatives”, who enjoyed (especially in the UK) inherited privileges of voting or treatment under the law.

Progressive, actually, was the accurate term in the early 20th century for the followers of Theodore Roosevelt and Herbert Croly. This group, long before FDR and New Deal, advocated strict government control over business, its profits, prices and wages, national health and old age insurance.

should emphasize that D’Souza does not mean a world where, literally, America never existed.

Presumably, if that were his intention, it could mean that the colonies remained to this day under British rule, the British took over the Louisiana territory after Napoleon’s demise, Texas became an independent republic and Mexico retained control over California, Arizona and the Southwest (or similar scenarios).

D’Souza makes it clear that he, as an immigrant by choice to this country, is thoroughly opposed to all programs of Obama and Clinton.

His approach is to argue that their ideologies and, in some cases, their view of the US as an oppressor, would effectively make America, as we know it, disappear.

IMAGE COURTESY OF REGNERY PUBLISHING.

On an even stranger basis, if Canada and Mexico existed, but never the U.S., the territory in between those two nations could still be one inhabited by mostly nomadic Indian tribes—in short, an actual third world area.

D’Souza doesn’t deny or gloss over mistakes and excesses committed

by America in its history. This would include confiscation of some Indian land where inhabitants were peaceful farmers instead of warlike nomads, slavery and, of course, racial segregation after the Civil War. But when he describes what this country has done for its citizens, its immigrants and other countries as well, he amasses an extremely positive slate.

America, as he reminds us, actually rebuilt the bomb-shattered economies of its two wartime enemies, Nazi Germany and Hirohito’s Japan.

sense of life would be radically different from what most today consider as the US quality of life.

Towards the end of his book, D’Souza discusses the question of what many see as a current American decline. He does not believe this decline is inevitable, but he argues it is proceeding at an alarming rate. He discusses how an extreme American decline would lead to the emergence of China, our main creditor, as the world’s #1 super power. If so, their political structure, Mandarin language, currency, life style and all around

The author uses extensively the word “Progressive” to describe those who condemn the US for its past failures, actual or alleged.

These would include Obama and even Hillary Clinton. His terminology is appropriate, rather than “liberal” or “Extreme liberal.”

Originally, the latter term meant 99

D’Souza argues that if the US declined so much that China or some other country took over world dominance, qualities that we consider the best of this country (sometimes called the American “sense of life”) would not continue, but would be gone forever.

At worst, our literal lives in this country could eventually be described as “nasty, brutish and brief.”

It is easy to see why this book made number one on the “New York Times” Bestseller list.

Salem VI: Chain of Souls

By Jack Heath and John Thompson he girl’s feet kicked up small puffs of dust as she walked down the dirt lane. The greens, blues, and reds of her plaid skirt seemed to pulse with every step, and the wind tossed the blazer covering her white blouse, each gust making it rise and writhe as if trying to escape the strain of her backpack straps. Her hair was dark, tied in a neat ponytail, and her face had a youthful glow that betrayed her age. She was at best thirteen, maybe fourteen.

The sky overhead was a swirl of heavy gray clouds that seemed to threaten rain, yet the path was hard and bone dry. An ancient stone wall ran along beside the lane; and beyond, the ground rose to what should have been a verdant meadow.

Instead, sheep grazed on scabby brown grass that clung to the hillside.

The man looked down on the scene with growing dread. Something was terribly wrong. He called to the girl, imploring her to turn around, to go back to wherever she had come, but his voice, barely escaping his mouth, faded into the heavy gauze of the approaching storm. He tried to run after her, but his movements were slow and restrained, like a fly trapped in ether.

This was a dream, he knew it was a dream, but through the horror of his past he understood that something about this dream was more, was real.

The man cried out, screaming at the top of his lungs, but the girl kept walking.

Up ahead of her an enormous oak webbed the ground with twisted shadows, its barren limbs catching what little light there was, and deeper, beyond the edge of the

shadows, was pitch black, as if some terrible secret was hiding in the darkness, waiting for the girl there—something he could feel, something he knew with all his senses was horrible beyond words, that related to another place, another girl.

Suddenly, his dream changed, and he saw the place where he had found the other girl. It was a room of white tiles with shackles set into the walls, the girl’s nude body sagging in the chains, her belly slit open and her intestines spilling obscenely, the floor pooled with blood. The young girl, the one with the backpack, was walking into the exact same fate.

John Andrews bolted awake, his body tense with panic, his heart pounding, his pillow and sheets soaked with his sweat. Beside him Amy gripped his shoulder and switched on the bedside lamp.

“John,” she said, her voice soft yet urgent. “It’s okay. You were having a dream.”

Andrews pulled up his knees and brought his head forward, balling himself up like a child hiding from the world. “The Coven,” he groaned.

“It’s over,” Amy assured him as she worked her fingers into his shoulders, trying to unknot the muscles. “They’re all dead, all of them. They can’t hurt anyone anymore.”

John tried to focus on the warm light from the lamp, the reassuring touch of Amy’s hands on his shoulders, on the words she was speaking. More than anything, he wanted to believe her and be assured the Coven had finally been destroyed.

He was safe in his bed on Pickering Wharf in Salem, Massachusetts, he

told himself. He wasn’t on some dusty lane in god-knows-where.

There wasn’t a girl in danger. Amy was right. The Coven was gone.

After all, hadn’t he seen the bodies of the leaders? There was no mistaking the fact that they were dead because he was the one who had killed them, all of them except his friend Rich Harvey, who had killed himself, and he had seen that with his own eyes, too.

It was hard to imagine that all of those things had taken place just a week earlier. Already it seemed like another lifetime or another world because the discoveries had been so horrifying, the violence so unbelievable.

John knew that over the past week his mind had shut down, almost like it had been shocked into a state of suspended animation. He hadn’t thought about the Coven; he hadn’t relived the bloody scenes. He had just gone through his days with his mind almost blank, getting up, taking long walks, eating, sleeping, never allowing himself to process the atrocities of the previous weeks.

Now he realized he was starting to come out of it and re-enter the real world, and he was enough a student of psychology to know that nightmares were a natural part of reawakening. This bad dream wouldn’t be the last one, and it was probably perfectly normal.

Only something nagged at him. He remembered some- thing Captain Card said when they were alone together in the underground warrens of the Coven. John hadn’t thought about it until now, but he was sure that Card said there had been a seventh member of the Coven. Card, a Massachusetts State Police detective, had been very cryptic and

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tight-lipped, and the few things he had let slip seemed to have only leaked out by accident. John wracked his brain to recall what else Card had said. He recalled something about the fact that the ultimate leader of a Coven was apparently called the Inquisitor, and hadn’t Card also said that all the Covens were organized the same way?

All the Covens, plural? The word had sat in his brain for the past week like a cancer, silent and waiting to be discovered. John felt a sickness deep inside. His mind reeled and images and memories of visions past—visions of Rebecca Nurse— came flooding back. As hard as he had tried at first to deny those visions of his long-dead relative, he had finally accepted that they were real. Now the same part of him that knew Rebecca Nurse had been real knew what he had just seen was no dream. The girl was real and she was still walking, just entering the deep shade beneath the ancient tree.

What waited for her there was the same evil he had defeated before; he could feel it. That meant the Coven might be gone from Salem, but it wasn’t destroyed.

John sat up and turned to face Amy. “What?” she asked, seeing the alarm etched on his face.

“It’s not over. It’s not even close to being over.”

W

Chapter One

hen John Andrews walked downstairs the next morning to make coffee, he stopped at the bottom of the staircase and looked into the living room at the portrait of his ancestor, Rebecca Nurse.

ALL PHOTOS BY LEAH WALKER.

T

Prologue

Book Excerpt “Please talk to me,” he said, gazing up at the painting. Just like almost any portrait of a Puritan woman, Rebecca Nurse was unquestionably not pretty in her black dress with a high white collar. She sat in a rocking chair working on a piece of embroidery as her unsmiling face gazed out of the portrait.

Until very recently, John had hated the portrait, which had come as part of the furnishings of the house he’d inherited from his great aunt. His aunt’s one condition on giving him the house had been that Rebecca’s portrait had to remain hanging in the house. For years John had never understood his aunt’s reasoning, but he had honored that condition, hanging the portrait out of sight.

He used to joke that Rebecca Nurse had been “as ugly as a Rottweiler with a sore ass,” but that was before the spirit of Rebecca Nurse helped him avenge the murder of his late wife. Until a few weeks ago, John Andrews would have scoffed at the idea of spirits, and when Rebecca first appeared to him, he had feared he was losing his mind. However, after the events of the past few weeks, his cynicism, or what he might have called his reporter’s skepticism, had been totally demolished. He no longer had any doubt spirits existed or that they could communicate with the living, or, for that matter, that Devil worshippers had been living around him in Salem.

It turned out the Coven had operated in Salem for the past three hundred years and been responsible not only for the Salem witch trials, of which Rebecca Nurse had been the final victim, but also for countless blood sacrifices over the intervening centuries. John Andrews knew he was a man whose sense of certainty about everything in life had been badly weakened.

In fact, he now acknowledged that the spirit of Rebecca Nurse was the reason he had survived the events of the past month. She had been the key to unlocking the Coven’s foul secrets and had shown him the secret door that allowed him to attack them in their underground lair. In so doing she had opened him up to the mystical or spiritual power—whatever it had been, he still had no idea what to call it—that had allowed him to kill the leaders of the Coven. As a result, John had moved Rebecca’s portrait and it now hung where it belonged, in the place of highest respect and visibility in his home, right above the mantelshelf.

Having spent his professional life

as a journalist, Andrews had been armored with a heavy sense of skepticism and doubt that would have made it nearly impossible for anyone to convince him of the things he had now experienced personally.

These days he not only believed that the spirits of the dead could communicate with the living, he actually missed having that communication and wished Rebecca Nurse would continue to guide him as she had in the days when they struggled together against the Salem Coven. However, as if their victory over the Coven had somehow released her spirit to go wherever spirits went when they were at peace, Rebecca Nurse remained silent as she had in the days following Andrews’s final battle with the Salem Coven.

Andrews stood in front of the painting for another few seconds.

“Not talking to me again today? You even there anymore, or have you gone on permanent vacation? Not that you don’t deserve a permanent vacation, of course, after everything that happened to you. I hope you’re someplace with palm trees and a nice beach and people to bring you those little drinks with umbrellas in them. And no offense, but I hope you can finally get out of those heavy black clothes, maybe get some shorts and sandals.” Finally, he shrugged, knowing anyone who overheard him would think he was absolutely nuts, and he went to the front door to bring in the morning papers. He grabbed The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post, tossed them onto the counter, went to the coffeemaker and hit the on button then went back, pulled the papers from their plastic tubes and started scanning the morning headlines.

He always read The New York Times first and skimmed over the paper’s descriptions of disasters and conflicts around the world: another battle in Afghanistan, a car bombing in Iraq targeting Shiites, flooding in Thailand, a riot over growing unemployment in Spain. Strangely, when Andrews read world events, he actually found they relaxed him. At least these were straightforward things that happened month in and month out, year after year. A man could deal with wars and

famines and floods, he joked to himself, but not with Satanworshipping Covens doing blood sacrifices in his own backyard.

As the aroma of brewing coffee filled the kitchen Andrews started to feel better, and his memory of the nightmare that had awakened him a short time earlier faded from his memory. That was when he turned the page and saw the article about a drought in Great Britain.

Something about it nagged at him, and he saw the girl from his dream again, her foot- steps kicking up small puffs of dust. The dream’s setting with the rural lane, the stone wall along the road, and the grassy hillside with herds of sheep had been so quintessentially British, all except for the dryness.

The other thing that troubled him was that he had been so preoccupied recently with matters closer to home he didn’t think he’d even been aware the U.K. was suffering a drought.

So why would he have dreamed it?

Was it just some massive coincidence? Did the dream mean something, or was it simply a bad dream? He couldn’t shake the feeling it actually meant something, and the whole thing gave him chills.

He stepped over to where he had his cell phone on the charger to look up the number for Captain Andrew Card. Card was a Massachusetts State Police detective John had taken down into

101

the warren of underground passages in order to show Card where he had fought and killed the leaders of the Coven. However, when they had reached the room where the fight took place, John had been shocked to find that the dead bodies and all the other evidence had been removed. As stupefied as John had been, Card had seemed unsurprised, and that was when he had let slip the fact that he knew far more about the Covens and Devil worship than he had previously admitted.

John had tried to call Card several other times since they’d discovered the bodies were missing, but Card had never returned his calls. John assumed the detective was extremely busy, and that he’d also probably assumed John wanted to talk things out, rehash what had happened and ask a lot of questions Card might be unwilling to answer.

Still, those questions had been eating at him. How much more did Card know? Why wasn’t he willing to be more forth- coming? John needed answers, not only because the journalist inside him craved information, but also because what he had said to Amy earlier in bed was true. It wasn’t over. He felt it in his guts like an essential truth, but he couldn’t say why.

He needed someone who knew more than he did to help him understand, but there was no doubt in his mind the danger still existed. It wasn’t as close as it had been, but it was out there in the darkness. His nightmare had been a reminder of that truth, but was it more? Was it an omen of something in the future or a warning he should act on now? He needed to know these things. As foolish as he might sound recounting all this to anyone else, he was willing to take the risk, and Card was the only person John could think of to call.

Card’s cell phone rang until a recording asked John to leave a message.

“Andrew,” John said, leaving another message. “I had a dream last night and . . . look, I know this sounds totally hysterical, but I’m pretty sure I was seeing a girl who was about to be taken by the Coven.

But it wasn’t this Coven; it was a different one, someplace else.

Maybe in England, but I can’t be certain. It looked like England, but it could have been a lot of places. I don’t know who else to tell this to. Please call me.”

COMING SOON

Coconut Bliss is more than just one man’s journey to the edge of the world. It is a story of transformation; cultural contrasts and a clearer understanding of how diet and disease are inextricably linked to the seeds of agriculture and the food we eat. Against the backdrop of one of the world’s most exotic and ancient civilizations, Coconut Bliss shines a magisterial spotlight on humanity and the foods of life. www.lanceseeto.com

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